Opening 18:00
The Game Owner exhibition presents a dialogue between the creative approaches of Danish artist Søren Dahlgaard and Czech artist Jakub Janovský. Though distinct in method and artistic strategy, both artists share a common interest in play and its various attributes. Their works frequently reference childhood, depicted through elements such as a bouncy castle or the remnants of a housing estate playground. The faces of the participants in their games often appear indistinct in their paintings or photographs. In the case of Janovský, these figures serve as archetypes into which the artist or viewer can project their own existence, rooted in collective memory and the act of reliving past experiences. By contrast, Dahlgaard's works feature real individuals whose identities are only anonymised in the creative process. This joint exhibition becomes a playground shaped by childhood imagination and playfulness.
The practice of conceptual artist Søren Dahlgaard (*1973) is built around interactive projects that engage with playful collaboration and creative participation. His works, often realised in public spaces, transform participation into a structured game, where predefined rules interact with the individual creativity of the participants. This approach is evident not only in his performative happenings but also in his painting, where process and action are integral to the artwork itself. Photography plays a significant role in his practice, primarily serving as documentation of his projects, such as Inflatable Island or Dough Portraits. The exhibition at Telegraph Gallery presents two series of dough portraits created specifically for this occasion. The first series consists of portraits of Telegraph visitors and the local Olomouc people, while the second documents art collectors from the Czech Republic and Slovakia alongside artefacts from their collections.
Jakub Janovský (*1984) explores both personal and collective memory, with his work often bearing the hallmarks of the past, particularly the socialist era in which he grew up. His art features figures and symbols that function as archetypes, allowing viewers to engage with their own experiences and reinterpret historical and contemporary themes. His practice is characterised by a playful approach and a diverse use of media, spanning painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, installation, and video. This versatility enables Janovský to experiment with different artistic approaches, offering him boundless possibilities for visually expressing themes such as memory, identity, and collective history.
Curated by Erika Kovačičová, Mira Macík
