Lot 175

Jiří Bradáček (1922 - 1984) GROWTH

The impressive sculpture "Growth" made of patinated wood is the work of a sculptor who had to fight hard for the freedom of his artistic expression in the context of the ideological dictatorship of the communist regime. Jiří Bradáček studied at UMPRUM under Prof. Karel Dvořák and was a member of the Krok 57 group. Initially, he worked in the Duchcov porcelain factory Royal Dux, for which he designed small sculptures that were very successful. From 1967 he worked as an associate professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, where he headed the studio of applied sculpture. His pupils included Čestmír Suška, Magdalena Jetelová, Martin Zet and Michal Gabriel. He created a number of free sculptures for North Bohemian cities such as Děčín, Most, Teplice, Ústí nad Labem. His sculptures, competing in dynamic conception with the organic shapes of nature, secured recognition in the context of Czech sculpture in post-war Czechoslovakia. In addition to the current representation of Bradáček's work in the "Silent Spring" exhibition organized by the National Gallery in the Trade Fair Palace, a retrospective exhibition dedicated to this remarkable artist is planned for the future. Published: Jiří Bradáček, 1992-1984, sculptures drawings models realisations, 2004, p. 10.