In 1997, a jury of Czech visual artists and theorists nominated five artists for the 8th edition of the leading Czech award for visual artists under 35. Their works were exhibited on the Romanesque Floor of the Old Royal Palace at the Prague Castle.
Finalists
The finalists of the 8th edition of Jindřich Chalupecký Award in 1997 included Jiří Příhoda, Veronika Bromová, Jiří Černický, Federico Díaz and Roman Franta.
Award Holder
Jindřich Chalupecký Award 1997 went to Jiří Příhoda. “His work directly points to its illusory character – its form and construction. Some of his works even look like a commercial for an event that is about to happen. But that event, like the exhibition, is only temporary. Turning the natural into the unnatural, Příhoda seeks to satisfy the spectator’s thirst by the obvious yet unexpectedly conveyed. His works act like mirrors over water – showing what is really there and the illusion of what is there, constantly switching between the two, yet always knowing when to emerge,” writes Marisa Ravalli in the catalogue Jiří Příhoda 92–00. The award holder received CZK 100.000 for an exhibition, publication or a creative project of his choice and an international residency.
Jury
The Head of the Jury of the 8th edition of Jindřich Chalupecký Award was curator and gallerist Jiří Švestka. The jury further included typographer and illustrator Václav Bláha, art historian and curator Vlasta Čiháková-Noshiro, graphic artist and painter Bedřich Dlouhý, teacher and journalist Václav Erben, painter and typographer Milan Grygar, art theorist Jiřina Kumstátová, art historian and curator Olga Malá, painter and visual artist Ivan Ouhel, and art historian and journalist Jiří Zemánek. The jury was the same as in the past edition.
Exhibition
The collective exhibition of Jindřich Chalupecký Award 1997 was held on the Romanesque Floor of the Old Royal Palace at the Prague Castle. The invitations and the catalogue featuring the work by six award holders from 1990 to 1995 were designed by visual artist Joska Skalník. The exhibition Closer to the Street featuring the work of Jiří Příhoda was held at Václav Špála Gallery in Prague in 1998. The artist did not exhibit anything at the gallery – he only replicated a part of the exhibition space by moving it closer to the shop window. This sparked a negative response in some media, labeling him as an eclectic. Six years later, award holder Ján Mančuška made a similar experiment with Václav Špála Gallery.
Award Ceremony
The award ceremony of the 8th edition of Jindřich Chalupecký Award was held at the Prague Castle in 1997. The award holder was in the United States at the time, so he did not attend the award ceremony.