Milan Knízák "Lecture Art is only a crutch, films, slides and a videotape"

29.03.1980
Galerie A, Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 12, Amsterdam

Art is only a crutch I

Art is only a crutch II

Art is only a crutch III

Art is only a crutch IV

‘Milan Knízák can be regarded as one of the most influential and versatile Czech artists. Between 1960 and 1980 he produced a great number of works, often under extremely difficult conditions. In around 1962 he began his activities on the streets of Prague - initially with a small group of like-minded people but quickly with the collaboration of several hundred others. The latter corresponded with the intentions of Knízák and the members of the AKTUAL group, which he had organized in 1964. (...) Until 1966 the group had almost no notion of any related activities taking place abroad. During that year a Fluxus festival was organized in Prague, and Knízák met Dick Higgins, Ben Vautier, Alison Knowles and Serge Oldenbourg. From that moment, contacts with the outside world became more intense. At the same time, Knízák experienced increasing opposition from the Czech authorities in his work. His work consists of happening-like events as well as a large number of so-called object books. These books consist largely of photographs and descriptions of actions and material used in these events. In addition to object books that are related to the events, there are also books connected with music, for example. Other themes in Knízák’s work are architecture and fashion. Collages, object books, articles of clothing and gramophone records by Knízák will be exhibited in Galerie A (Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 12, Amsterdam) from 29 March to 26 April.’ (Invitation De Appel, March 1980.)