Jan Hendrych

Jan Hendrych (born 28 November 1936) is a Czech sculptor, painter, restorer, curator and professor emeritus at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague.

Life Jan Hendrych was born in Prague-Střešovice in the family of the lawyer Jaroslav Hendrych (1908–1992) and the sculptor Olga Hendrychová, née Tobolková (1910-1986), a pupil of Prof. Otakar Španiel.

In 1951–1955 he graduated from the Secondary Industrial School of Interior Design (Prof. Václav Markup). He studied at the Academy of Arts and Crafts in Prague (1955–1961) in the sculpture studios of Prof. Josef Wagner and Prof. Jan Kavan and attended seminars in general aesthetics led by Dr. Dušan Šindelář. In 1963–1966 he was a postgraduate at the Academy of Fine Arts under Prof. Karel Hladík and Prof. Karel Lidický. Among his classmates and generational peers were several avant-garde artists who dealt with structural abstraction: Antonín Tomalík, Pavel Nešleha, Aleš Veselý, Zdeněk Beran, Antonín Málek, Jan Koblasa.

In 1993 he became a member of the renewed Umělecká beseda, and in 1995 a member of the State Commission for Metallic Currency of the Czech National Bank. In 1993-95 he was the vice-rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. In 1997 and 1999 he led two semesters of figure modelling at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki. Through Prof. Kaplický, he became acquainted with the work of Marino Marini and learned from the expressive cubist modelling of Otto Gutfreund (Sitting in a Café, 1957)

He was an accomplished portraitist, but like many of his generational comrades, he too was affected by a wave of structural abstraction and experimentation with new materials (Figure with Raster, polyester, 1960). In the 1960s he produced a series of abstract stelae (The Pianist, 1964), figurative abstractions (Leaning Figure, 1965–66) and expressive busts combining plaster with plastic and polychrome (Sitting with Thought, 1969) or with industrial elements. With his own conception of abstraction, Jan Hendrych profiled himself as a distinctive individual with an authentic sculptural sensibility since the early 1960s. His encounters with historic bridges in small villages and the ubiquitous statues of John of Nepomuk were the inspiration for the following large-scale series of chamber sculptures of bridges with the figure, which continued until 2000. The bridges are an existential metaphor for a fateful journey, a risk, a turning point, or a record of a dramatic event in conjunction with a human story. A comprehensive set of these sculptures was exhibited in 1997 by the Ztichlá klika Gallery (South Bohemian Bridge with a Figure, bronze, 1976, Blacksmith's Bridge, tin, iron, 1986, St. John's Bridge, tin, 1991, South Bridge, cement, 1996, Chinese Bridge, bronze, polychrome, 2000). The bridges are also monuments to life's dramas and fatal tragedies, symbolizing the futility of every effort and glory. In Study of a Girl from 1980, the torso has a modelled head with a calm, almost challenging facial expression. Girl with a Ball (1980–1990) is reminiscent of Bohumil Zemánek's figures in its grotesqueness. The suggestive effect of Hendrych's sculptures lies in the combination of the pathetic naturalism of some figures with lightening and grotesque details, as in the case of the sculpture Piercing (1998). The naked figure evokes the chilling sense that the body has been sewn together after dissection or previous dismantling into parts (Late Afternoon, 2008). Resting Wrestler (2006–2007), created using a similar technique, is more reminiscent of a soldier training dummy.

When depicting a literary subject, Hendrych returns to abstraction and concentrates on relief modelling of the surface (Kafka's Stories I-IV, 1998). Contour sculptures intended for the frontal view are rather an exception in his work (Clown Heads, concrete, 1984–1992), as are sculptures composed of surface elements and an empty interior space (Bust with Three Ties, 1978–1999).

The figures in plaster are usually polychromed in neutral tones reminiscent of clay. Colour polychromy is used for non-figurative subjects (House in the Garden, 2003–2004) or to increase the expressive effect (Bridge of the Jester, 1975, Lady Goose, 2005).

Statues

Drawings and prints Jan Hendrych created an extensive set of preparatory drawings and graphic sheets (drypoint, etching) as studies for sculptures. The drawings are spontaneous, sovereign and experiment with matter and space in a limited two-dimensional format. Only a fraction of the recorded ideas can be realized in material. Many of the drawings are not directly related to his sculpture and form an integral part of his painting. (Sonata, gouache, 1986, The Dogman, 2000).

Drawings from the sketchbook (2014–2015)

Representation in collections National Gallery in Prague Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region in Kutná Hora Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové Gallery of Modern Art in Roudnice nad Labem North Bohemian Gallery of Fine Arts in Litoměřice Gallery of Fine Arts, Cheb East Bohemian Gallery in Pardubice Gallery of Fine Arts Jičín Horácká Gallery of Fine Arts, Nové Město na Moravě Regional Gallery of Fine Arts in Zlín Museum of Art Olomouc District Museum of Local History, Jindřichův Hradec Orlická Gallery, Rychnov nad Kněžnou East Slovak Gallery, Košice Golden Goose Gallery, Prague Collection of the Paris Coin Mint, Paris

Exhibitions Author´s 1966 Jan Hendrych, Young Gallery, Mánes, Prague 1967 Jan Hendrych: Sculptures, Gallery of Art, Ostrov 1988 Jan Hendrych: Sculptures, Old Town Hall, Cross Corridor, Prague 1999 Jan Hendrych: Sculptures, Nový Svět Gallery, Prague 1999 Jan Hendrych: Sculptures, Synagogue Exhibition Hall, Hranice 2001Jan Hendrych, Ztichlá klika Gallery, Prague 2001/2 Jan Hendrych: The Sixties, Ztichlá klika Gallery, Prague 2002 Jan Hendrych: Sculptures and Drawings, Magna Gallery, Ostrava 2005 Jan Hendrych: Sculptures, Drawings, Prints, Czech Museum of Fine Arts, Prague 2005 Jan Hendrych: Sculptures, Drawings, Prints, Wortner House of the Alš South Bohemian Gallery, České Budějovice 2005 Jan Hendrych: Sculptures, Drawings, Prints, Regional Gallery of Highlands in Jihlava 2009 Jan Hendrych, Benedikt Rejt Gallery, Louny 2011/12 Jan Hendrych: Hell's 75, Litera Gallery, Prague 2012 Jan Hendrych, Regional Gallery of Highlands in Jihlava 2016 Jan Hendrych / Rastislav Jacko / Teacher and Pupil II, Gallery of Modern Art in Roudnice nad Labem 2017 Jan Hendrych, Topič Salon and Club, Prague 2020 Jan Hendrych, Gallery MY - House of J. and J.V. Scheybal, Jablonec nad Nisou

Collective (selection) 1965 1. biennale form przestrzennych Elblag, Galeria El, Elbląg, Poland 1965 Małarstwo a rzeźba z Pragi, Kraków, Poland 1969/1970 Czech and Slovak Medals 1508–1968, Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava 1970 Prager Künstler. Gemälde, Graphik, Plastik, Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin 1970 Tschechische Skulptur des 20. Jahrhunderts: Von Myslbek bis zur Gegenwart, Schloß Charlottenburg - Orangerie, Berlin 1970 Sodobna češkoslovaška umetnost, Mestna galerija Ljubljana, Piran, Zagreb 1973/1974 La médaille Tchécoslovaque à la monnaie de Paris, Musée de la Monnaie, Paris 1980 Tshekkoslovakialaisia kuvia / Tjeckoslovakiska bilder, Helsingin Taidehalli / Helsingfors Konsthall, Helsinki, Wäinä Aaltosen museo, Turku 1985 A mai csehszlovák szobrászat, Műcsarnok, Kunsthalle Budapest) 1987 Salon de Tokyo. International member's exhibition, Roma Gallery, Tokyo 1988 Rzeźba czeska i słowacka 1948–1988, Galeria Związku Artystów Rzeźbiarzy, Varšava (Warszawa) 1988/12 Prague - Paris: Art and Artists on Czechoslovak and French Medals of the 20th Century, Wallenstein Riding Hall, Prague 1989 Salon de Tokyo. International culture exchange exhibition, Ota-Kumin Plaza Art Hall, Tokyo 1990 Salon de Tokyo. International member's exhibition, Togen Gallery, Hamamatsu (Shizuoka) 1992 Minisalon, Prague, Mons, Hollywood, Cincinnati, New York, Indianapolis, Rapids, Albuquerque, Chicago, Columbia, Nord Dartmouth, Saint Petersburg, Fort Myers, Brussels, Jakarta, Ubud, Surabaya, Paris 1993/1994 New Figuration, North Bohemian Gallery of Fine Arts in Litoměřice, East Bohemian Gallery, Pardubice, Moravian Gallery in Brno, House of Art, Opava, Regional Gallery of Highlands in Jihlava 1993 Exhibition of Contemporary Czech Sculpture, Mánes, Prague 1994 Focal Points of Rebirth, Prague Municipal Gallery 1995 Artchemo 1968/1969, East Bohemian Gallery in Pardubice, Regional Gallery of Highlands in Jihlava, House of Art, Zlín, Gallery Médium, Bratislava, Old Town Hall, Prague 1998 Announcement of Icarus' Flight: the Olomouc Sixties, Museum of Art Olomouc - Museum of Modern Art, Olomouc 1999/2000 The Art of Accelerated Time. Czech Art Scene 1958–1968, Prague, Gallery of Fine Arts, Cheb 2000 Die Botschaft der Apokalypse, Domschatz - und Diözesanmuseum, Eichstätt 2007/2008 Czech Art of the 20th Century: 1970–2007, Aleš South Bohemian Gallery in Hluboká nad Vltavou 2009 Figurama 09, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Poznania Zamek Centre of Culture, Poznan, Golden House of European Culture, České Budějovice, Berlaymont building, Brussels, Old Town Hall, Prague 2017 Intersalon - Continuatio Quadrati, 21st International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Mariánská Gallery, České Budějovice 2018 Anatomie skoku do prázdna: Rok 1968 a výtvarné umění v Československu / The Anatomy of a Leap into the Void: The Year 1968 and Art in Czechoslovakia, Exhibition Hall Masné krámy, Plzeň

Permanent exhibitions 2013 Století relativity: Stálá expozice výtvarného umění 20. století / Century of Relativity: Permanent exposition of fine arts of the 20th century, Museum of Modern Art, Olomouc 2014–2017 States of Mind / Behind the Image, Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region (GASK), Kutná Hora 2017 - 2025 States of Mind / Behind the Image: Variations and Interventions, Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region (GASK), Kutná Hora

Symposia 1963 Europahaus, Vienna 1965 Symposium of Spatial Forms, Elbląg, 1969 Symposium of Sculptures in Metal, VCHZŽ Košice 1969 Artchemo, Pardubice 1992 International Sculpture Symposium Hořice 1994 International Jug Symposium, Hředle 1998 Sculpture Summer Jirčany 1998 International Sculpture Workshop, Ružomberok 1999 Symposium Guilin, China 2009, 2010, 2012 Smaltart, Vítkovice

Realizations 1965 Inclined figure (300 cm), iron, Elbląg 1969 Big Head (500 cm), iron, Košice 1971 central sculpture, sandstone, Stachy cemetery 1973 ceramic wall, Chedok Berlin 1976 5 reliefs, bronze, Marble Palace, Tehran Bull, sandstone, SOU Písnice 1984 Sculpture with plant motifs, Lhotka housing estate, Prague 1985 Fountain, sandstone, South Town, Prague 1985 Fountains, Metro B-Smíchovské nádraží, Prague 1986-7 Labe (300x200 cm), sandstone, Přední Labská 1992 Inclined Figure, granite, Manchester by Sea, USA 1995 commemorative plaque, Prague Uprising, Old Town Hall 1996 Bridge, granite, symp. Guilin, China 1997 UNESCO commemorative plaque, bronze, Old Town Hall, Prague 1999 memorial plaque to F. Kafka, bronze, Kinsky Palace, Prague Bust of Wenceslaus Hollar, bronze, Soukenická, Prague 2003 monument to J. Krčín of Jelčany, bronze, marble, Třeboň 2005 memorial plaque to Bertha von Suttner, bronze, Kinsky Palace, Prague 2008 The Way of the Cross (Redemption), sandstone, Kuks 2016 Calvary sculpture U Třech Svatých, cement, Kunratice, Prague