Glass artist and designer
From Brno, Jihomoravský region, Czechia
Based in Prague and glass workshops in North Bohemia, Czechia
Marieta is one of the emerging talents of Czech glassmaking; she studied under Rony Plesl at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts. Her work is centered around dialogue - between the artist and material, traditional craft processes and innovation, art and design. At the end of this creative journey are pieces whose final form is a result of said dialogue.
A: Please, tell us a bit more about yourself. What brought you to art?
M: My first encounter with the creative space was in evening art classes I used to attend for several years. But this afternoon leisure turned into a real challenge when I decided to apply to the Secondary School of Art and Design in Brno. I had been studying at a grammar school and art was not a primary focus of mine - it was just one of my many hobbies. But I placed first at the entrance exam which was proof that that direction made sense for me, and it also served as a powerful motivation to keep going.
A: What inspires you the most?
M: My surroundings is an incredible source of inspiration and creative force. I also like to keep an open mind, to not limit my options. This allows me to work with a new subject matter every time. I start completely anew, and I never stop learning.
With each project I set off on a journey, starting from theoretical research and prototypes, to working at the glass workshop when more people become involved until I arrive at the finished product.
A: Do you have any specific rituals while working (creating)?
M: I like to surround myself with objects that intrigue me in some way and show further potential - it could be screenshots, natural objects, or bits of hardware. The more, the better. Rather than starting with a blank sheet of paper I collect a large amount of data which I then select, edit, reconstruct, and combine. I try to transform chaos into order which will speak to me as well as others. It is during this process that the piece's intrinsic idea becomes clear. And often, this idea is then shared through entirely different means than those I start with.
A: What would you recommend to someone new to art (an artist or just an admirer), what to begin with?
M: To foster a craving for learning. This helps you stay in motion and (hopefully) always enjoy yourself.
A: Your top 3 adjectives or phrases related to art?
M: I tend to use a motley vocabulary for art because each artwork deserves an individual approach. Every piece is based on a unique principle and creates a unique value, therefore I rarely repeat the same expressions for different pieces.
The aspects I am usually interested in are originality, innovation, individuality, and the power of its essence. Even the word "art" itself is similarly flexible - its meaning keeps evolving and allows for different perspectives.
A: Your favorite Czech artists?
M: I love finding artists who, in one way or another, don't fit into their time. Zdeněk Pešánek has been one of myfavourites. An incredibly progressive artist, he created kinetic light sculptures whose movement was determined by time. In the first half of the 20th century, he managed to predict something that would become a common phenomenon in the second half. His legacy remains relevant for contemporary art.
A: What piece of art do you think embodies the Czech national spirit and culture? Why?
M: That would be work jointly produced by Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová. They brought masterful craftsmanship as well as innovation into North-Bohemian workshops; their approach to glass was novel and refreshing. They had an unrepeatable way of handling glass and its light-fracturing properties. Their works are easily recognizable in galleries all over the world. They proved that glass is not just functional but has its place in contemporary art galleries.
A: The perfect way to start any conversation about art is: ..?
M: Best over something that raises questions or is somehow provocative. That way it brings forth camps of disparate views and the more interesting the discussion is. Art has the ability to touch one by corresponding to some previous experience; that's usually one of the strongest connections.
A: Where can we meet you?
M: Sometimes I feel like I spend most of my time on the road. I plan my projects in one place then complete them in others (e.g., workshops of glass molders, cutters, or glassblowers in North Bohemia). Traveling in the company of 50-kilogram molds soaked in water is a common occurrence. Luckily, we're a fairly small country, densely packed with talented people. We're able to realize pretty much anything of high quality which is unparalleled on the global scale. I wish it stays this way.
A: Please, share your favorite quote or idea (not necessarily related to art):
M: "If you feel like you can't keep going anymore, you have a 90% chance that you still can" - this really helps! (laughs)
Thank you!