Exhibition
David Böhm & Jiří Franta, Denisa Ponomarevová: In Place of Words
7 2 — 1 3 2026
7 2 — 1 3 2026
Open every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The exhibition In Place of Words focuses on interpersonal communication and its transformation in the present day, when fast, abbreviated, and especially written expression is becoming increasingly prevalent. For a large part of our society today, sending a text message is more comfortable than a personal conversation or phone call. However, this shift does not only mean a change in the medium of dialogue, but also a change in the very nature of communication.
The current prevailing modes of communication are characterized by a desire for efficiency, and immediate response. Language is becoming shorter, the meaning is condensed, and emotions are often delegated to symbols or emoticons that are supposed to replace tone of voice, facial expressions, or the physical presence of the other person. However, it is precisely in this reduced space that shifts in meaning, ambiguity, or misinterpretation of the message’s intent can easily occur. What is supposed to have a quick and unambiguous effect can become a source of tension, misunderstanding, or subsequent pauses in conversation.
The exhibition In Place of Words delves into these subtle but important nuances of communication through a selection of works by the well-known duo David Böhm and Jiří Franta. Their deliberately crude sculptures embody specific, impassioned exchanges of opinion, public expression, and moments in which communication fails, stalls, or escalates into a conflict. The physical nature of the exhibited objects contrasts with the immateriality of digital sharing and reminds us of the impact of words and gestures, which often disappears in the online environment.
At the same time, it presents a lesser-known aspect of the work of artists who have earned their unmistakable place on the Czech art scene primarily as creators of technically brilliant and thematically stimulating drawings.
The objects and drawings of this established artistic duo are complemented by a selection of drawings from the Hypnotikon series by artist Denisa Ponomarevová, a recent graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Brno. Her work opens up a more intimate level of communication—a space for inner dialogue, concentration, and hypnotic repetition that stands in opposition to the fragmented attention and constant flow of information so typical of today’s world.
The exhibition In Place of Words focuses on interpersonal communication and its transformation in the present day, when fast, abbreviated, and especially written expression is becoming increasingly prevalent. For a large part of our society today, sending a text message is more comfortable than a personal conversation or phone call. However, this shift does not only mean a change in the medium of dialogue, but also a change in the very nature of communication.
The current prevailing modes of communication are characterized by a desire for efficiency, and immediate response. Language is becoming shorter, the meaning is condensed, and emotions are often delegated to symbols or emoticons that are supposed to replace tone of voice, facial expressions, or the physical presence of the other person. However, it is precisely in this reduced space that shifts in meaning, ambiguity, or misinterpretation of the message’s intent can easily occur. What is supposed to have a quick and unambiguous effect can become a source of tension, misunderstanding, or subsequent pauses in conversation.
The exhibition In Place of Words delves into these subtle but important nuances of communication through a selection of works by the well-known duo David Böhm and Jiří Franta. Their deliberately crude sculptures embody specific, impassioned exchanges of opinion, public expression, and moments in which communication fails, stalls, or escalates into a conflict. The physical nature of the exhibited objects contrasts with the immateriality of digital sharing and reminds us of the impact of words and gestures, which often disappears in the online environment.
At the same time, it presents a lesser-known aspect of the work of artists who have earned their unmistakable place on the Czech art scene primarily as creators of technically brilliant and thematically stimulating drawings.
The objects and drawings of this established artistic duo are complemented by a selection of drawings from the Hypnotikon series by artist Denisa Ponomarevová, a recent graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Brno. Her work opens up a more intimate level of communication—a space for inner dialogue, concentration, and hypnotic repetition that stands in opposition to the fragmented attention and constant flow of information so typical of today’s world.
