Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art

Anatomia Metamorphosis Luboš Plný &Anna Zemánková:Works from the abcd Collection Sat., Feb. 4 to Sun., March 25, 2012 The cutting edge of Art Brut!

Luboš Plný, Untitled, (2008; abcd Collection)

Anna Zemánková, Up from the Depths,
(ca. 1965; abcd Collection)

From the film Rouge Ciel, un essai sur l'art brut (produced and directed by Bruno Decharme, 2009)

The term "art brut" refers to works of art made by people who have had little or no contact with mainstream art or art institutions. The exhibition features over 100 works by two of the most important Czech art-brut creators, Anna Zemánková (1908-1986) and Luboš Plný (b. 1961). On loan from the internationally famous abcd Collection, all of the works, which are related to the theme of "anatomia metamorphosis," are appearing for the first time in Japan. The exhibition presents a collection of vigorous expressions stemming from deep within the artists.
In conjunction with the event, we are also pleased to present the first Japanese screening of Rouge Ciel, An Essay on Art Brut, a full-length documentary directed by Bruno Decharme. In addition, several of the works featured in the film will also be on display in the museum.

Sat., Feb. 4 to Sun., March 25, 2012

Opening hours
10:00-18:00 (-20:00 on Fri. and Sat.)
Admission until 30 minutes before closing

Closed on Mon.

Organized by the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, the Yomiuri Shimbun, and the Japan Association of Art Museums
Co-organized by abcd; Barbara Šafářová, Terezie Zemánková
Supported by the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Consulate General of France in Kyoto, Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic, Hyogo Prefecture, Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education, Kobe City, and Kobe City Board of Education
, Hotel Okura Kobe

Admission (including film screening):
Adults: ¥1300 (¥1100), university students: ¥900 (¥700), high school students/seniors (65 and over): ¥650 (¥550), junior-high school students and younger: Free
*Prices in parentheses are for advance tickets and groups of more than 20 people.
*Disabled visitors and one caretaker will be admitted at half price when displaying an ID at the museum ticket office (not available to those over 65).
*Advance tickets will be available until Fri., Feb, 3 through Ticket Pia (P-code: 764-974), Lawson Ticket (L-code: 56389), major ticket agencies throughout the Kansai area.

Lecture: "Contemporary Art Brut"
Sat., Feb. 4, 14:00-16:00
Speakers: Barbara Šafářová (co-curator of exhibition, director of abcd)
Bruno Decharme (filmmaker/founder of abcd)
Museum Hall (admission free; limited to 250 people)

Dialogue: "Art Brut in the West and in Japan"
Sun., Feb. 26 at 14:00-15:30
Guest: Yukiko Koide (independent curator)
Host: Tadashi Hattori (co-curator of exhibition)
Museum Hall (admission free; limited to 250 people)

Curator's Talk
Sat., Feb. 18 and March 10 at 16:00-17:00
Lecture Room (admission free; limited to 100 people)

Exhibition Commentary by Museum Volunteer
Every Sun. at 11:00-11:15
Lecture Room (admission free; limited to 100 people)

Workshop: Sat., March 3
Details will be forthcoming shortly on this website.

Film screening for museum members: Sun., March 4
Details will be forthcoming shortly on this website.

Born in Česká Lípa, Czech Republic in 1961. Already as a child he was drawn to two phenomena: graphic art and anatomy. After leaving elementary school he went into apprenticeship in Nymburk to learn electro-mechanics, then he worked for six years as an electro-mechanic with Czech Railways and some other jobs. His drawings evoke X-ray photographs and complex anatomical atlas. Plný is regarded as one of the most important discoveries in the world of Art Brut in 21th century. 30 drawings and 1 object are on show, including very recent works produced in 2011.

Luboš Plný, Untitled,
(2001; abcd Collection)

Luboš Plný, Untitled,
(2008; abcd Collection)

Luboš Plný, Untitled,
(2010; abcd Collection)

Luboš Plný, Body Art, photograph
(abcd Collection)

Mario del Curto, a world famous photographer of art brut, shot Plný for this exhibition in his private life in Prague and in his studio. 28 beautiful and poetic photographs are on show for the first time in Japan.

Portrait of Luboš Plný (2011; photo ©Mario Del Curto)

Born in Hodolany near Olomouc, Zemánková had 4 children and concentrated all her passion on them, wholly devoting her attention to them. When the children began to grow up and she could no longer fully fulfill her maternal role, she fell into a state of frustration and moodiness. Her creative work, to which Anna was introduced by her sons in 1960, when she was fifty-two, functioned as a sort of catharsis. She drew thousands of imaginary flowers and plants through her creative life. Now she is regarded as one of the most important classical creators of art brut. 60 drawings representing her whole creative works are displayed.

Anna Zemánková,Untitled,
(1961-63; abcd Collection)

Anna Zemánková,Water Flowers,
(early 1960s; abcd Collection)

Anna Zemánková,Untitled,
(late 1970s; abcd Collection)

Portrait of Anna Zemánková
(date unknown)

This exhibition is co-organized by abcd, a non-profit association in France aiming to promote the understanding and diffusion of art brut. All the works on show are from the abcd Collection. This exhibition is originally inspired by their show "Anatomia Metamorphosis" in 2009 at their gallery.

Installation view, Anatomia Metamorphosis
at abcd Gallery, 2009

In addition to the exhibition of the work of two Czech-born artists, we present the Japanese premiere of Rouge Ciel, An Essay on Art Brut, a documentary made by Bruno Decharme, who along with serving as the founder of abcd is an accomplished filmmaker. The inclusion of this film, which pursues the essence of art brut through a series of breathtaking and poetic scenes, allows the viewer to consider the past and the present of the genre from a wider perspective.

From the film Rouge Ciel, un essai sur l'art brut (produced and directed by Bruno Decharme, 2009)

In the film Rouge Ciel, un essai sur l'art brut, 6 creators of art brut are specially featured such as Henry Darger, George Widener, Kunizo Matsumoto, Purvis Young, Alexandre Lobanov and Zdenek Kosek. This show specially presents 16 works of these creators from the abcd collection for deeper understanding for the film.

Zdenek Kosek, Untitled,
(undated; abcd Collection)

George Widener, Sunday's Crash,
(undated; abcd Collection)

sample pages

Anatomia Metamorphosis
Lubos Plny & Anna Zemankova: Works from the abcd Collection
Japanese-English bilingual Exhibition Catalogue Anatomia Metamorphosis, including the reproductions of all the exhibits as well as many stills and words from the film Rouge Ciel, is published from Gendaikikakushitsu Publisher. Please order through online bookstores.