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Miroslav Tichy
Original Vintage Print - Woman in Bikini - Unique Piece

1971

About the Item

Original Miroslav Tichý b/w Photography. Woman in Bikini. 17.5cm x 10.5cm Unique Vintage Print on paper with the artist's drawing on it. Miroslav Tichý was a photographer who from the 1960s until 1985 took thousands of surreptitious pictures of women in his hometown of Kyjov in the Czech Republic, using homemade cameras constructed of cardboard tubes, tin cans and other at-hand materials. Most of his subjects were unaware that they were being photographed. A few struck beauty-pageant poses when they sighted Tichý, perhaps not realizing that the parody of a camera he carried was real. His soft focus, fleeting glimpses of the women of Kyjov are skewed, spotted and badly printed — flawed by the limitations of his primitive equipment and a series of deliberate processing mistakes meant to add poetic imperfections.Of his technical methods, Tichy has said, First of all, you have to have a bad camera and, If you want to be famous, you must do something more badly than anybody in the entire world. During the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia, Tichý was considered a dissident and was badly treated by the government. His photographs remained largely unknown until an exhibition was held for him in 2004. Tichý did not attend exhibitions, and lived a life of self-sufficiency and freedom from the standards of society. Tichý died on April 12, 2011 in Kyjov, Czech Republic. Conservation The works were unnumbered, untitled and undated. Tichý kept no catalogue and had no room to properly store his negatives or prints. Once he had printed a picture, it was cast aside, dropped haphazardly about his home, exposed to dirt and damage, rats and insects. In 1981, Roman Buxbaum, a former neighbor befriended by Tichý when Buxbaum was a child, returned from exile in Switzerland. His family had long been owners of paintings and drawings by Tichý, and now Buxbaum discovered the photographic work, which had been kept a secret. Buxbaum began an effort to collect and preserve the artist's deteriorating photographs. He says that over the next 25 years it was his good fortune to be the only person to see, collect and document Tichý's work. Tichý made him presents of bundles of photographs, and Buxbaum bought more bundles from Tichý's neighbor and "surrogate mother", Jana Hebnarová, who has looked after Tichý since his mother's death and been appointed his heir. Recognition As part of Buxbaum's conservation efforts, he made a documentary about the artist's work and life, Miroslav Tichý: Tarzan Retired (2004). Tichý's work was largely unknown until Buxbaum's collection of his photographs was shown at the 2004 Biennial of Contemporary Art in Seville. Tichý's work won the Rencontres d'Arles 2005 New Discovery Award, and Buxbaum set up the Tichý Oceán Foundation on behalf of Tichý, then 77, to preserve and exhibit his work. In 2005, he had a major retrospective at the Kunsthaus in Zurich, another at the Pompidou Centre in 2008. In February 2010, Tichý had a solo show at the International Center of Photography in New York City. The exhibition featured 100 photographs, the film Miroslav Tichý: Tarzan Retired, and two large vitrines exhibiting dusty and grimy piles of photographs, homemade cameras, lamps, and rolls of undeveloped film. In its review, The New York Times thought his anti-modernist style was representative of the nonviolent subversion practiced by Czech students and artists under the Soviet regime, and called his photographs an uncanny fusion of eroticism, paranoia and deliberation that is mildly disturbing [but also] intensely fascinating. Miroslav Tichý was known for his unconventional and candid approach to photography, often capturing everyday moments with a unique perspective. "Woman in Bikini" is a black and white photograph that likely reflects his distinctive style. In "Woman in Bikini," we see a candid scene of a woman as she dries off after a swim. She is wearing a bikini, which suggests a relaxed and leisurely atmosphere, possibly at a beach or swimming pool. Tichý's work often portrayed ordinary moments in the lives of his subjects, giving them an intimate and unguarded quality. The use of black and white photography adds a timeless and classic feel to the image, emphasizing the shapes, contrasts, and textures within the scene. Tichý's approach often involved using homemade and improvised cameras, which could result in unconventional compositions and visual effects. As with much of Tichý's work, "Woman in Bikini" likely captures the essence of a fleeting and unposed moment, providing viewers with a glimpse into the everyday lives of his subjects. It's an example of his ability to find beauty and interest in the mundane, offering a unique perspective on the human experience.
  • Creator:
    Miroslav Tichy (1896-1961, Czech)
  • Creation Year:
    1971
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 6.89 in (17.5 cm)Width: 4.14 in (10.5 cm)Depth: 0.08 in (2 mm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Morongo Valley, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: Tichy #0011stDibs: LU652313058132
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