Richard Kočí

born: 26. 1. 1954 in Prague, lives and works in Prague and Madrid
graduate: Bellas artes de San Fernando, Madrid (ESP)
Escuela de Artes y Oficios, Madrid (ESP)
address: Betlémská 1, 110 00 Prague 1
e-mail: kocirich@volny.cz
http://www.richardkoci.cz

Henry Miller once said that the goal at which we aim is not in the change of the setting, but rather in the change of thinking. Just like about everyone who comes to Mikulov in summer, I immediately felt its magical attraction. Coincidentally, we arrived during a tropical heat wave, which even deepened the notion of some kind of geographical confusion. I remember my morning walks in the empty town square and the same deserted little streets in early afternoons. When the heat was at its worst, people sought shade and this strongly reminded me of the atmosphere of the typical lazy summer Spanish afternoon I so intimately know from the Mediterranean. A light feeling of deja-vu immediately brought about empathy with the environment. The past was laid upon me from all corners of Mikulov in spite of being there for the first time. In Mikulov I found peace of mind and the perception of time I was used to from before. Another time dimension where time passes according to my ideas and you don't feel continuously dragged by events and circumstances. My statues require lots of time and strength to make. I wanted the result of my work to reflect something from my month's stay in Mikulov; I wanted my new statue to belong there in some way. The "Tear of the Capuchin" is not only a reference to the town's ancient history but also a symbolic expression of the mysterious ways of destiny. Henry Miller might have been right that the goal is a shift in ideas, but place does play an important role in the whole process. There is no present without the past and the future is the result of the present.We all know that life takes place right now and that it is no use looking back with nostalgia. Those who look into the future too much run the risk of realizing that he missed something, that some things are gone for good.That we know, and yet we have to keep looking for ways of putting up with these contrasts. Sometimes we do well, sometimes we don't. Art is one option.The month I spent with art in Mikulov was a gift that matures with time just like wine and it will be great to pull it nostalgically out of the closet of memories and enjoy it once again.

Richard Kočí

Mikulov Art Symposium 2006

July 15^th - Agust 12^th, 2012

• Facts
• Theoretician of the Year
• MAS Partners
• List of Works
• Photostory
• They wrote about this year's "dílna"
• Catalogue (pdf)