Jan Tichy

Master of Fine Arts, Sculpture, '09

2009 Fellowship Recipient

Experience at SAIC

It would be almost impossible to describe these two years in this tiny window. It was amazing experience. I was given a chance to be part of, to learn, to see and hear, to meet, to experience and hopefully to give back a little as well.

Personal statement

My work deals with political and social issues drawn mainly from urban and industrial contexts. I make installations using paper or porcelain as sculptural materials and video projection as a time-based source of light. The projected animation reveals and enhances the sculptural elements, creating layers of narrative. I use photography, video, sound, and sculpture to explore how the physical and psychic space of these artificially constructed environments manifests itself as subject to change through the interventions of time, nature, and political action.  In my works I deal with controversial charged sites; some inaccessible to the public, and with non-specific environments, raising awareness to issues like nuclear power, abandoned oil fields, secret prison, etc.; unfolding social unconscious and pointing out problematic implications. I work with abstract forms and architectural elements. The use of formal and minimal visual language emerging from my photographic background (both in the objects and the animation) is intended to open the narratives to different interpretation, ranging from urban landscapes to organic structures, generating eerie atmosphere and feeling of alienation. The light that illuminates the dark space in my works became my language and I persistently seek to expand my vocabulary. This projected light allows me to turn the whole space into a sculptural object.

The four works presented here were created during the two years at the School of the Art Institute. Their different scales, materials and modes of projection reflect the processes of my conceptual and media investigation. After working with single channel ceiling projection for "Installation no.4 (towers)", I experimented with three channel-synchronized projection in "Installation no.5 (threshold)". For "Installation no.6 (tubes)", while still working with paper, I used a television monitor as a source of light and I generated sound from the projected image. The experience of working with porcelain in "Installation no.7" allowed me to discover its unique relevant qualities to my video installations and I hope to be able to expend this inquiry further.

I intend to utilize the fellowship award I received from SAIC to help pay for the materials I will need for my future work.

Current Interests

Working on a collaborative project "Lighting the Crown Hall" at IIT

Background

Born 1974 in Prague education
2007-2009 School of the Art Institute of Chicago, MFA in studio, Sculpture Department
2005-2007 Betzalel Academy of Art and Design, Tel Aviv, Advanced Studies in Art
1999- 2002 Jerusalem School of Photography and New Media, Photography Department
1995- 1999 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Political Science and General Studies

Awards and scholarships
Israeli Ministry of Culture "The Young Artist Award", 2007
Rich Foundation Scholarship for 2006/7
America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship for 2002/3, 2006/7, 2008/9
Mayor of Jerusalem Award for Excellence in Art Studies, 2002
HP Digital Photography Awards, 2000
Scholarship for Excellence in Studies, Jerusalem School of Photography Musrara, 2000

Solo exhibitions
"12*12", Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, 2008
"1391", Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, 2007
"Beton", Morel Drefler Gallery, Jerusalem, 2004
"Bab El Musrara", Musrara Community Gallery and Drefler Gallery, Jerusalem, 2002

Upcoming projects and exhibitions
"Lighting The Crown Hall", IIT, Chicago, May 2009
"Roullete", Centre d'Art Santa Mònica, June 2009
"Learning Modern", Sullivan Galleries, SAIC, Chicago, September 2009
Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago, October 2009
Center for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv, March 2010

Group exhibitions
"Beyond a Border", MFA SAIC, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago
"Paperwork" , Beit Ticho, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 2009
"The Age of a Different Re-Action", Davide Gallo Gallery, Berlin, January 2009
"Can Art Do More?" Art Focus 5, Jerusalem, 2008
"Addition" , The Israeli Pavilion, Architecture Biennale, Venice, 2008
" First Show", The Israel Museum Jerusalem, Beit Mani, Tel Aviv, 2008
"Access to Israel", The Jewish Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, 2008
"The International Prague Triennial", National Gallery, Prague, 2008
"Blind Spot", Petach Tikva Museum of Modern Art, Israel, 2008
"60 year" , Arc Gallery, Chicago, 2008
"Real Time: Art in Israel 1998-2008", Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 2008
"Young Artist Award" , Haifa Museum of Art, Israel, 2008
"Personal Landscape" , The American University Museum, Washington D.C., 2008
"Twosideness" ,Kulturhuset, Stockholm, 2008
"Forks and Napkin" , G2 Gallery, Chicago IL, 2007
"Jerusalem of one's eye", The Social Gallery, Jerusalem, 2007
"Herzliya Bienalle", Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, Israel2007
"VideoMarina", Bat Yam Museum of Art, Israel 2007
"Artic 9", Tel Aviv University Gallery, 2007
"Salame 007", MFA Show, Betzalel Academy of Arts, Tel Aviv, 2007
"Fleeing Away From What Bothers You Most", Magasin 3 Konsthall, Stockholm, 2007