POLE / THE FIELD, the title of the exhibition of painter and graphic artist, Tomáš Žemla, that sounds purist and even banal, presents the essence of his work – abundant variations of the same motif, minimalism bordering on abstraction, as well as his personal philosophy and experience. The Field has been close to his heart for 13 years. Žemla depicts it at different seasons of the year and light conditions, and stages of work; he captures it at various angles and views including a bird’s eye view and in various formats, however always using his own hatching technique. In this exhibition, Žemla presents his most recent series entitled Light Fields in square formats and two triptychs.
To Žemla, this theme presents the all-embracing substance of life and light. Wide open fields are symbols of the fragile symbiosis of man and nature and the eternal cycle of birth and death. Their minimalistic expression has a maximizing effect in his works. Just as in the meaning from the field of physics, a work is conceived of millions of particles (colorful lines in his case), mutually integrating and intertwining in a compact mass. A unique microcosmos is formed on his canvases, static and silent at first glance, but full of life and energy when observed for a longer period of time.
Žemla’s directness speaks to us in his original artistic language, which operates on the borderline of abstraction and depicting. He enhances this aspect even more by designing an image on the half horizon.
Everything that is important to Žemla takes place in his paintings, the purity of lines with an emphasis on the effect of colors, respect for tradition and his roots and a rejection of haste and modern world preferences. He finds himself through his continual search for the meaning of creation in content and demanding and time-consuming technique. The Field has become the artist’s most authentic utterance.
Mgr. Radka Nedomová
Tomáš Žemla
*1984
Selected Awards and Prizes:
2019 Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2022- Přespolní sonáty (Sonatas from across the Field), Petr Novotný Gallery, Prague, (CZ)
2022- Zbytečná revoluce (Unnecessary Revolution), UFFO Trutnov, (CZ)
2021- Obrázky mizejícího světa (Images of a Fading World), Jan Čejka Gallery, Prague (CZ)
2020- ART Prague-Solo Exhibition/ Young Award 2019/, Art Prague (CZ)
2020- do-poli/na-poli, Miloš Alexander Bazovský Gallery, Trenčín (SK)
2020- Čiarky a Kamene (Lines and Stones), Vltavín Gallery, Prague (CZ)
2019- Interfelds, Ratamo, Gallery Jyväskylä (FI)
2019- Definition of the Field, Jan Čejka Gallery, Prague (CZ)
2018- Fields Continued, DLUL Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
2018- Testimony of Minimalism Man Touched Land, Exit11 Gallery, Chateau de Petit-Leez (BE)
2013- WOF, Insula Gallery, Izola (SI)
2013- Fields, Fontána Gallery, Piešťany (SK)
Education
2003 – 2007: Department of Art, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra,.
(Art. Mgr. Jozef Baus, Akad. soch. Viliam Loviška)
Teaching Experience:
2006 – ŠUP (School of Art Industry) Hlohovec
