Václav Kopecký (*1983) is an artist and (academic staff/lecturer) head of the studio of Apllied Photography FUD UJEP (Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.). The interest of Kopecký's art works and pedagogical activity is the photographic medium and the means of expression associated with the Lens-Based medium.
Václav Kopecký continuously approaches photography not only as a tool of reflection of reality but also as a physical object that fills up the space and changes our perspective. He analyses photography as a medium of memory related to a specific history and technology; in his exhibitions, he alludes to a closed world that follows its own rules. He considers the photographic medium as a way of perceiving the world to which he seeks various parallels, e.g.in the form of a found imprint, a record of light, a redirection of our view. He approaches the installation of the exhibition in a similar way, (for instance by using a photosensitive emulsion to let the installation make its own imprint on the gallery walls.)
He is currently working on a long-term project Always Now reflecting on our perception of time, memory and personal experiences.
STUDIES
2013–2019 PhD. program, UMPRUM in Prague, Prague (PhD.)
2010–2012 UMPRUM in Prague, Studio of Photography of Hynek Alt & Aleksandra Vajd (MgA.)
2006–2010 JEPU, Faculty of Art and Design, Department of Photography of Pavel Baňka (BcA.)
STIPENDS
2013 rezidence České centrum Brusel
2012 rezidence v Egon Schiele Art Center, Český Krumlov
2011 AVU, Praha, ateliér Intermédií III Tomáše Vaňka
2009 University of Derby, Faculty of Arts, Design and Technology, Derby, GB
TEACHING PRACTICE
since 2020 Fakulta umění a designu UJEP v Ústí a. Labem, Head of studio Apllied Photography
2014–2021 VOŠG a SPŠ grafická Hellichova v Praze, department of photography
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Osnova, pohyb paže a pocit ve zlomu času, Josef Sudek’s studio Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
Always Now, Berlinskej Model, Prague, Czech Rep.
2019 Four Balls, Lucie Drdova Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
Untitled: Sky, Galerie 207, Prague, Czech Rep.
film1_palmy_07zaves, Artmap, Prague, Czech Rep.
2017 Zkamenělina (IV), OFF/Format, Brno, Czech Rep.
2016 Zkamenělina (III), Atelier Josefa Sudka, Prague, Czech Rep.
2015 Zkamenělina (II), Lucie Drdova Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
2014 Zkamenělina (I), curator: Jiří Ptáček, Dům umění České Budějovice, Czech Rep.
Hotel Zenit, galerie Buňka, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.
2013 Hotel Zenit (III) – Zpětná vlna, galerie Kabinet TIC, Brno, Czech Rep.
2012 Hotel Zenit (II), Drdova Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
Still Life, the30gallery, Festival Fotograf, Prague, Czech Rep.
Neon (společně s Jiřím Thýnem), Galerie Na Shledanou, Volyně, Czech Rep.
Hotel Zenit (I), Galerie 35m2, Prague, Czech Rep.
2011 Slábnoucí světlo, sílící stín (společně s Pavlem Baňkou), Galerie Entrance, Prague, Czech Rep.
Untitled, Galerie Fotograf, Prague, Czech Rep.
2010 Včela z úlu v pohledu, kurátor: Jiří Thýn, Galerie Jelení, Prague, Czech Rep.
Poznámky k obsahu (společně s Veronikou Daňhelovou), Komunikační prostor Školská 28, Prague, Czech Rep.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Křehký Mikulov, Always Now, Czech Rep.
Všechno je všech, 4+4 dny v pohybu, curator: Jiří Ptáček, Prague, Czech Rep.
SYMBIOSIS 2.0, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 4/F Pao Galleries (gallery A), Hong Kong
2022 Salon of Artists of Benešov Region, Muzeum umění a designu Benešov, Czech Rep.
2021 SUMO 2021, Vila P65, Prague, Czech Rep.
2020 Dream Team / Virtuální výstava prací absolventů FUD UJEP
2018 Zaostřeno na neurčito, Topičův salón, curator: Karel Srp, Prague, Czech Rep.
2017 Ripple Effect, Futura gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
2016 Inventura, White Unicorn Gallery, Klatovy, Czech Rep.
Cities and (Velo)cities, kurátor: Vaclav Janoscik, Summer of Photopgraphy, Bozar, Brussel
2015 Kdo na moje místo, Plato gallery, Ostrava, Czech Rep.
Between Document and Monument, Drdova Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
2014 7. Zlínský salón, Krajská galerie výtvarného umění ve Zlíně, Czech Rep.
About the Chair, 9th Biennial of Photography and Visual Arts, Liege. BE
Hast du von Bergen geträumt ? III, kurátorka: Alena Drahokoupilová, České centrum Prague, Czech Rep.
Hast du von Bergen geträumt ? II, kurátorka: Alena Drahokoupilová, Czech Centre Berlin
2013 Hast du von Bergen geträumt ? I, kurátorka: Alena Drahokoupilová, Kulturrathaus, Dresden
Prague Biennale Photo 3, kurátor: Pavel Vančát, Nákladové nádraží Žižkov, Prague, Czech Rep.
2012 Hidden River, DOX Centre for contemporary Art, Prague, Czech Rep.
6. Zlínský salón mladých, Dům umění ve Zlíně, Czech Rep.
Fotofestival Uničov 2, Teta Gallery, Uničov, Czech Rep.
2011 Finalisté ceny EXIT, Galerie Emila Filly, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.
Výstava 2011, kurátor: Karel Císař, UPM, Prague, Czech Rep.
Začarovaný kruh (jubilejní výstava atelieru fotografie Pavel Baňka), Galerie Emila Filly, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.
In Optima Forma, Galerie Emila Filly, Ústí and Labem, Czech Rep.
2010 Sebrané úvahy, kurátorka: Edith Jeřábková, Galerie Entrance, Prague, Czech Rep.
One day you will lose it all, kurátorka: Markéta Kinterová, 4+4 Dny v pohybu, Prague, Czech Rep.
Making worlds, Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí and Labem, Czech Rep.
2009 Gedanken Zur Revolution, Part 03 “Art & Politics”, Leipzig
Body, Galerie Starý pivovar, Brno, Czech Rep.
Druhá směna, Armaturka, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.
SELECTED ART FAIRS
2018 Unseen Amsterdam, Netherlands
2012 ViennaFair
PUBLICATIONS, REVIEWS
Four Balls, 2019
Petrification, 2015
1/24, 2010
Camera Austria #163 (2023)
Fotograf magazine #21 (2013)
Art&Antique 05/2013
Václav Kopecký continuously approaches photography not only as a tool of reflection of reality but also as a physical object that fills up the space and changes our perspective. He analyses photography as a medium of memory related to a specific history and technology; in his exhibitions, he alludes to a closed world that follows its own rules. He considers the photographic medium as a way of perceiving the world to which he seeks various parallels, e.g.in the form of a found imprint, a record of light, a redirection of our view. He approaches the installation of the exhibition in a similar way, (for instance by using a photosensitive emulsion to let the installation make its own imprint on the gallery walls.)
He is currently working on a long-term project Always Now reflecting on our perception of time, memory and personal experiences.
STUDIES
2013–2019 PhD. program, UMPRUM in Prague, Prague (PhD.)
2010–2012 UMPRUM in Prague, Studio of Photography of Hynek Alt & Aleksandra Vajd (MgA.)
2006–2010 JEPU, Faculty of Art and Design, Department of Photography of Pavel Baňka (BcA.)
STIPENDS
2013 rezidence České centrum Brusel
2012 rezidence v Egon Schiele Art Center, Český Krumlov
2011 AVU, Praha, ateliér Intermédií III Tomáše Vaňka
2009 University of Derby, Faculty of Arts, Design and Technology, Derby, GB
TEACHING PRACTICE
since 2020 Fakulta umění a designu UJEP v Ústí a. Labem, Head of studio Apllied Photography
2014–2021 VOŠG a SPŠ grafická Hellichova v Praze, department of photography
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Osnova, pohyb paže a pocit ve zlomu času, Josef Sudek’s studio Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
Always Now, Berlinskej Model, Prague, Czech Rep.
2019 Four Balls, Lucie Drdova Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
Untitled: Sky, Galerie 207, Prague, Czech Rep.
film1_palmy_07zaves, Artmap, Prague, Czech Rep.
2017 Zkamenělina (IV), OFF/Format, Brno, Czech Rep.
2016 Zkamenělina (III), Atelier Josefa Sudka, Prague, Czech Rep.
2015 Zkamenělina (II), Lucie Drdova Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
2014 Zkamenělina (I), curator: Jiří Ptáček, Dům umění České Budějovice, Czech Rep.
Hotel Zenit, galerie Buňka, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.
2013 Hotel Zenit (III) – Zpětná vlna, galerie Kabinet TIC, Brno, Czech Rep.
2012 Hotel Zenit (II), Drdova Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
Still Life, the30gallery, Festival Fotograf, Prague, Czech Rep.
Neon (společně s Jiřím Thýnem), Galerie Na Shledanou, Volyně, Czech Rep.
Hotel Zenit (I), Galerie 35m2, Prague, Czech Rep.
2011 Slábnoucí světlo, sílící stín (společně s Pavlem Baňkou), Galerie Entrance, Prague, Czech Rep.
Untitled, Galerie Fotograf, Prague, Czech Rep.
2010 Včela z úlu v pohledu, kurátor: Jiří Thýn, Galerie Jelení, Prague, Czech Rep.
Poznámky k obsahu (společně s Veronikou Daňhelovou), Komunikační prostor Školská 28, Prague, Czech Rep.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Křehký Mikulov, Always Now, Czech Rep.
Všechno je všech, 4+4 dny v pohybu, curator: Jiří Ptáček, Prague, Czech Rep.
SYMBIOSIS 2.0, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 4/F Pao Galleries (gallery A), Hong Kong
2022 Salon of Artists of Benešov Region, Muzeum umění a designu Benešov, Czech Rep.
2021 SUMO 2021, Vila P65, Prague, Czech Rep.
2020 Dream Team / Virtuální výstava prací absolventů FUD UJEP
2018 Zaostřeno na neurčito, Topičův salón, curator: Karel Srp, Prague, Czech Rep.
2017 Ripple Effect, Futura gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
2016 Inventura, White Unicorn Gallery, Klatovy, Czech Rep.
Cities and (Velo)cities, kurátor: Vaclav Janoscik, Summer of Photopgraphy, Bozar, Brussel
2015 Kdo na moje místo, Plato gallery, Ostrava, Czech Rep.
Between Document and Monument, Drdova Gallery, Prague, Czech Rep.
2014 7. Zlínský salón, Krajská galerie výtvarného umění ve Zlíně, Czech Rep.
About the Chair, 9th Biennial of Photography and Visual Arts, Liege. BE
Hast du von Bergen geträumt ? III, kurátorka: Alena Drahokoupilová, České centrum Prague, Czech Rep.
Hast du von Bergen geträumt ? II, kurátorka: Alena Drahokoupilová, Czech Centre Berlin
2013 Hast du von Bergen geträumt ? I, kurátorka: Alena Drahokoupilová, Kulturrathaus, Dresden
Prague Biennale Photo 3, kurátor: Pavel Vančát, Nákladové nádraží Žižkov, Prague, Czech Rep.
2012 Hidden River, DOX Centre for contemporary Art, Prague, Czech Rep.
6. Zlínský salón mladých, Dům umění ve Zlíně, Czech Rep.
Fotofestival Uničov 2, Teta Gallery, Uničov, Czech Rep.
2011 Finalisté ceny EXIT, Galerie Emila Filly, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.
Výstava 2011, kurátor: Karel Císař, UPM, Prague, Czech Rep.
Začarovaný kruh (jubilejní výstava atelieru fotografie Pavel Baňka), Galerie Emila Filly, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.
In Optima Forma, Galerie Emila Filly, Ústí and Labem, Czech Rep.
2010 Sebrané úvahy, kurátorka: Edith Jeřábková, Galerie Entrance, Prague, Czech Rep.
One day you will lose it all, kurátorka: Markéta Kinterová, 4+4 Dny v pohybu, Prague, Czech Rep.
Making worlds, Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí and Labem, Czech Rep.
2009 Gedanken Zur Revolution, Part 03 “Art & Politics”, Leipzig
Body, Galerie Starý pivovar, Brno, Czech Rep.
Druhá směna, Armaturka, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Rep.
SELECTED ART FAIRS
2018 Unseen Amsterdam, Netherlands
2012 ViennaFair
PUBLICATIONS, REVIEWS
Four Balls, 2019
Petrification, 2015
1/24, 2010
Camera Austria #163 (2023)
Fotograf magazine #21 (2013)
Art&Antique 05/2013