A Candid Conversation with Jan Kaláb
Photo Credit: Petr Hricko
Born in 1978 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Jan Kaláb is one of the country’s most notable contemporary artists today. A founding pioneer of the Prague underground graffiti and street art scene, formerly known as Cakes, and with his crew, The DSK - together they animated city streets and spent many sleepless nights in train yards, and perhaps, a few nights too in police stations. Following those glory days, Jan’s work has evolved to 3-D graffiti, light-suspended installations, animated NFTs, paintings, and sculptures. His paintings teeter on the edge of sculpture, and his sculptures are mostly painted. All the while, shape and color are the main characters of his work, which he pushes and blends together to exaggerate or minimize forms. Sometimes Jan’s work may resemble a particular shape, but it is never his intention to capture nor replicate an existing image or narrative. Rather, he seeks universal beauty in an unseen and novel perspective and redirects the known into the unknown, into a new dimension. The sensations of déjà vu, like when remembering a special moment or melody, this is the ultimate feeling Jan strives to achieve and wishes to resonate with his audience. A Master’s graduate from the Academy of Fine Arts of Prague in 2006, Jan had his first solo exhibition shortly thereafter in 2008 at the acclaimed Trafo Gallery, an exclusive art space notorious for showing only outstanding artists with limited shows of six per year. Since then, Jan has exhibited in high-profile galleries around the world, including New York, Miami, London, Paris, Shanghai, and Rio de Janeiro.
I had the pleasure of asking Jan about how math plays a part in creating art, how his art has evolved over the years, and so much more.
UZOMAH: You made street art in Prague during youth, signing your works under the pseudonyms Cakes or Point. How does graffiti still influence the art you are making today?
JAN: I don’t feel any strong influence from graffiti art anymore. Of course, it is part of my history, and my real passion began as a graffiti artist, but my work has evolved and changed.
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U: How does math play a part in creating abstract designs of organic shapes?
J: Every curve can be calculated, but math doesn’t play any role in the creation of my paintings. I don’t calculate any of the organic shapes. The lines are based on my taste and how I feel the composition should look like.
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U: What is the most critical trait of an artist?
J: Courage is probably the most crucial trait. Courage to sustain and keep going even when there is no success yet. Courage to risk the uncertain results. Courage to overcome yourself and your doubts.
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U: How has your practice changed over time?
J: It has evolved a lot in 30 years. From a graffiti artist who is obsessed with spraying on walls and trains, to an abstract artist exhibiting in galleries worldwide.
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U: Are there any differences or similarities between planning a work of art for a mural on the wall, to a canvas fit to be in a gallery or museum?
J: I think it is a very similar process. You have to take into account where the piece will be located and choose the right theme, proportions, and colors. The mural is non-transferable. Unlike paintings, it could be hung in various places in the future, so you have to consider that as well.
U: What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being an artist?
J: You are on your own, so you have to figure out how to solve your problems alone. You are responsible for your own success or failure.
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U: How would you explain what you do in a hundred words or less?
J: I create abstract art, which is constantly evolving. I research universal shapes which can be found anywhere in nature but at the same time anywhere in the cosmos. I believe in a universal code of beauty, which I'm trying to understand and capture in my own way through various techniques.
For more information about Jan’s artwork, you can visit his site. You can also follow him on Instagram and find him on Facebook.
