milestones

22. 10. – 4. 12. 2026

What makes art so exciting is its energy and vitality.

With every generation, aesthetic ideals, creative desires and visions are reborn... Sometimes they prove groundbreaking and innovative, at other times they return to their roots. Occasionally, they take the form of rebellious commentary on the events shaping our society. Almost invariably, the creative process itself demands an immense investment of energy, mental and physical effort, time and, often, financial sources.

As a gallerist, one has the privilege to follow artists throughout their creative journeys, sharing in the joy of their successes while also witnessing the inevitable periods of uncertainty and the search that accompanies the artistic process. One also observes the public’s responses, which, often born simply of lack of education, may lead to the rejection of contemporary works of art, even when they are truly unique and exceptional.

The work of gallerists and curators can only be judged with time. Looking back and reassessing the past reveals reports on working methods– are the represented artists part of a regional or local scene, or whether their work has found its place among the collections of prestigious institutions, both national and international.

We are pleased to present this group exhibition featuring works by artists whose work you may encounter in renowned museums and galleries around the world, including Tate Gallery in London, the Art Institute of Chicago, Centre Pompidou in Paris, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Ludwig Museum in Budapest and Kunsthalle Düsseldorf...The full list of institutions exhibiting these artists would be extensive, further details can be found in the monographs on display in the exhibition space.

Most of the works in this exhibition were acquired during solo exhibitions held at Závodný Gallery since 2011. Looking back I appreciate a lot the collaboration with the artists and their teams as we worked together to prepare each installation. The time we spent together and the experience of working side by side have become a kind of milestones. In retrospect, I see them as a series of lessons in how to approach art and how to experience it without prejudice.

These artists, through conscious decisions, build their own platform and system and develop it step by step, so that the genesis of each phase of their work comes to seem intuitive and natural.

Many of them were unafraid to leave behind the themes and methods respected by the professional community. They repeatedly sought new connections, explored different material possibilities and experimented with new forms of expression, even when their endeavours met with criticism. Only with the passage of time does the underlying coherence and continuity of these successive creative phases become fully apparent.

I regret that I will no longer be able to meet some of these artists. Yet their work transcends the boundaries of human existence and offers insight into the thoughts of its creators…

I warmly invite you to visit Závodný Gallery in Mikulov and enjoy works by G. Alviani, B. Aubertin, H. Böhm, V. Cigler, C. Cruz-Diez, H. Demartini, M. Dobeš, J. Fajó, M. Jetelová, J. Le Parc, Ch. Megert, F. Morellet, J. Stein, R. Vilder and R. Winiarski…