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'''Milan Knížák''' ({{IPA-cs|ˈmɪlan ˈkɲiːʒaːk|lang}}; born 19 April 1940) is a [[Czechs|Czech]] performance artist, sculptor, musician, [[installation artist]], dissident, [[Drawing|graphic artist]], [[Art theory|art theorist]] and [[Pedagogue|pedagogue of art]].
'''Milan Knížák''' ({{IPA|cs|ˈmɪlan ˈkɲiːʒaːk|lang}}; born 19 April 1940) is a [[Czechs|Czech]] [[performance art]]ist,<ref>Claire Bishop, "I. Prague: From Actions to Ceremonies", in ''Artificial Hells: Participatory Art and the Politics of Spectatorship'', Verso Books, 2012, pp 131-140</ref> sculptor, [[noise music]]ian,<ref>Caleb Kelly, "Milan Knížák's Broken Music", in ''Cracked Media: The Sound of Malfunction'', The MIT Press, 2009, pp 140-149</ref> [[installation artist]], political dissident, [[Drawing|graphic artist]], [[Art theory|art theorist]] and [[Pedagogue|pedagogue of art]] associated with [[Fluxus]].<ref>Tomáš Pospiszyl, ''Milan Knížák and Ken Friedman: Keeping Together Manifestations in a Divided World'', New York: [[MoMA]] 2015</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Childhood and early life in the Protectorate and in the former Sudetenland (1940–1960)===
===Childhood and early life in the Protectorate and in the former Sudetenland (1940–1960)===
Milan Knizak is the son of the painter, musician and teacher of mathematics<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:zkSssgxRt8gJ:www.spaleneporici.cz/dok_zpravodaj/zpravodaj08_02.doc+karel+kn%C3%AD%C5%BE%C3%A1k+1945+pohrani%C4%8D%C3%AD&cd=6&hl=cs&ct=clnk&gl=cz |title=SPÁLENOPOŘÍČSKÝ ZPRAVODAJ |publisher=spaleneporici.cz |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref> Karel Knížák from Doubravka u Plzně, nowadays part of the town [[Plzeň]], and Julia Knížáková. The parents taught in Jarov (1932–1934)<ref>Chronicle of Jarov http://www.obecjarov.cz/jarovska-skola/d-1023/p1=1031 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119211045/http://www.obecjarov.cz/jarovska-skola/d-1023/p1%3D1031 |date=19 January 2011 }}</ref> and later in [[Blovice]] close to [[Plzeň Region|Pilsen]]. Milan Knížák was born in [[Plzeň]] on 19 April 1940. In 1945,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milanknizak.com/zivotopis/ |title=Životopis – Milan Knížák.cz |publisher=Milanknizak.com |access-date=2012-07-26}}</ref> after the [[expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Ing. Richard Švandrlík |url=http://www.hamelika.cz/analy/OSIDLOVANI1945.htm |title=Hamelika – Osídlování Mariánských Lázní v roce 1945 |publisher=Hamelika.cz |access-date=2012-07-26}}</ref> the family moved to the [[Mariánské Lázně]], a [[spa town]] in the [[Expulsion of Germans after World War II|former]] [[Sudetenland]], close to the German border. There, his father played violin in a spa orchestra and Milan attended primary school, where he was interested in music and literature. He also took piano, trumpet and guitar lessons.
Milan Knizak is the son of the painter, musician and teacher of mathematics<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaleneporici.cz/dok_zpravodaj/zpravodaj08_02.doc |title=SPÁLENOPOŘÍČSKÝ ZPRAVODAJ |publisher=spaleneporici.cz |access-date=2012-09-19}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}</ref> Karel Knížák from Doubravka u Plzně, nowadays part of the town [[Plzeň]], and Julia Knížáková. The parents taught in Jarov (1932–1934)<ref>Chronicle of Jarov http://www.obecjarov.cz/jarovska-skola/d-1023/p1=1031 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119211045/http://www.obecjarov.cz/jarovska-skola/d-1023/p1%3D1031 |date=19 January 2011 }}</ref> and later in [[Blovice]] close to [[Plzeň Region|Pilsen]]. Milan Knížák was born in [[Plzeň]] on 19 April 1940. In 1945,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milanknizak.com/zivotopis/ |title=Životopis – Milan Knížák.cz |publisher=Milanknizak.com |access-date=2012-07-26}}</ref> after the [[expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Ing. Richard Švandrlík |url=http://www.hamelika.cz/analy/OSIDLOVANI1945.htm |title=Hamelika – Osídlování Mariánských Lázní v roce 1945 |publisher=Hamelika.cz |access-date=2012-07-26}}</ref> the family moved to the [[Mariánské Lázně]], a [[spa town]] in the [[Expulsion of Germans after World War II|former]] [[Sudetenland]], close to the German border. There, his father played violin in a spa orchestra and Milan attended primary school, where he was interested in music and literature. He also took piano, trumpet and guitar lessons.


=== Studies and beginnings (1955–1965) ===
=== Studies and beginnings (1955–1965) ===
He started painting at fourteen. He attended secondary/high- school (Gymnasium in [[Planá u Mariánských Lázní]]) and graduated in 1957. One of his schoolmate was gallery gangster MUDr. Pavel Náprava (born 1938) known in the 1960s like a "thief with the academic title"<ref>Glückselig, Josef: gangsteři v galeriích, s.159, Magnet 7, 1969</ref> On several occasions young Milan visited the studio of the unofficial painter and [[war veteran]] [[Vladimír Modrý]] (1907–1976). Later he wrote /in his diaries from US<ref>Milan Kňížák: Cestopisy IV., p.158, Radost, Praha, 1990</ref>/ about movie [[Fantastic voyage]] that its scenes reminded him the paintings by [[Vladimir Modrý]]. In one interview Milan Knížák said about this period:
Knížák started painting at fourteen in [[Mariánské Lázně]] where his first exhibition was held in 1958.<ref>Volf, Petr: Hermafrodit Milan Knížák, 1998</ref> He attended secondary/high-school (Gymnasium in [[Planá u Mariánských Lázní]]) and graduated in 1957.<ref>Glückselig, Josef: gangsteři v galeriích, s.159, Magnet 7, 1969</ref> On several occasions young Knížák visited the studio of the painter [[Vladimír Modrý]] (1907–1976). Later Knížák wrote in his diary<ref>Milan Kňížák: Cestopisy IV., p.158, Radost, Praha, 1990</ref> about the movie ''[[Fantastic Voyage]]'' and how its fantastic scenes reminded him of the paintings of Modrý.<ref>Vladimír Modrý 2004 {{cite web|url=http://www.fragmenty.cz/archiv/j0096.htm |title=Milan Knížák: "Spolu s malířem Modrým sdílím strach z duchovní lůzy" |access-date=2010-12-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718172805/http://www.fragmenty.cz/archiv/j0096.htm |archive-date=18 July 2011 }}</ref> During the period of mid-1957 to 1958 he attended the Pedagogical University in Prague, majoring in [[art education]] and [[Russian language]]. In 1958 he dropped out and became an assistant worker at Prague's exhibition grounds. He later passed the exams at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, but soon abandoned his studies there. He then studied [[mathematical analysis]] at the [[Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University]] for one year.
: ''“I share with Modrý the fear from the spirit of mob”''<ref>Vladimír Modrý 2004 {{cite web|url=http://www.fragmenty.cz/archiv/j0096.htm |title=Milan Knížák: "Spolu s malířem Modrým sdílím strach z duchovní lůzy" |access-date=2010-12-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718172805/http://www.fragmenty.cz/archiv/j0096.htm |archive-date=18 July 2011 }}</ref>
From his childhood in [[Mariánské Lázně]] is known a story from one empty house. One day he appeared a secret garret warehouse of the quirts.<ref>Volf, Petr: Hermafrodit Milan Knížák, 1998</ref> His first exhibition was in 1958 in [[Mariánské Lázně]].
In the period of 1957–1958 He attended the Pedagogical University in Prague, majoring in art education – Russian language. He said it was a compromise between the wishes of his parents and his desire to be a painter, later he dropped out. Then he became assistant worker in Prague exhibition grounds. He later passed the exams at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, where he also later abandoned. Then he studied mathematical analysis at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics in Prague. This studies after the first year was interrupted.

=== Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1960–1989) ===
{{Emptysection|date=October 2019}}


=== Actual and public art (1960–1975) ===
=== Actual and public art (1960–1975) ===
At the beginning of the 1960s, he created his first activity – [[happening]]s, ceremonies, installations and various [[Environmental art|environments]] on the busy or calm streets or in courtyards of [[Prague]].
At the beginning of the 1960s, he created his first activity – [[happening]]s, ceremonies, installations and various [[Environmental art|environments]] on the busy or calm streets or in courtyards of [[Prague]].


Together with his friends he founded a group of [[contemporary art]] (Actual Art). Sometime around 1966 the word "art" was dropped from the name and group was called poor "AKTUAL". Already known and also documented are their actions in the part of old [[Prague]] called New World, such as: "Demonstration of One" (1964). Some of AKTUAL´s songs were remastered by unofficial musical group [[The Plastic People of the Universe]], which members became, somewhat against their will, [[dissidents]] during [[political process]] in the autumn of the year 1976.
Together with his friends he founded a group of [[contemporary art]] called ''Actual Art''. Sometime around 1966 the word "art" was dropped from the name and group was called poor ''AKTUAL''. Already known and also documented are their actions in the part of old [[Prague]] called ''New World'', such as ''Demonstration of One'' (1964). Some of AKTUAL's songs were remastered by unofficial musical group [[The Plastic People of the Universe]], which members became, somewhat against their will, [[dissidents]] during [[political process]] in the autumn of the year 1976.


He was a member of [[Fluxus]], an international (anti-)artistic community of music, actions, poetry, [[Object (philosophy)|objects]] and events. Milan Knížák was director of [[Fluxus]] East from the year 1965. He is known for organising and performing the first [[happening]]s and concerts in [[Czechoslovakia]]: e.g. '''A Walk around [[Hradčany|Novy Svět]]''' (The part of old Prague is called "New World") and the '''Demonstration for Oneself''' (both 1964). Later he had contacts with [[Fluxus]] since 1965, the first [[Social network|contact]] mediated [[Czechs|Czech]] philosopher [[Jindřich Chalupecký]]. Knížák was promoted to "Director Fluxus East" by director [[George Maciunas]] about 1965. In the countries of former [[Eastern bloc]] there were managed these activities: Fluxus festivals in [[Vilnius]] (1966), [[Prague]] (1966), [[Budapest]] (1969), and [[Poznań]] (1977).
Knížák was a member of [[Fluxus]], an international (anti-)artistic community of music, actions, poetry, [[Object (philosophy)|objects]] and events. Knížák was director of [[Fluxus]] East from the year 1965. He is known for organising and performing the first [[happening]]s and [[noise music]] concerts in [[Czechoslovakia]]: e.g. ''A Walk around [[Hradčany|Novy Svět]]'' (The part of old Prague called ''New World'') and the ''Demonstration for Oneself'' (both 1964). Later he had contacts with the first [[Social network|contact]] mediated [[Czechs|Czech]] philosopher Jindřich Chalupecký. Knížák was promoted to ''Director Fluxus East'' by director [[George Maciunas]] about 1965. In the countries of former [[Eastern Bloc]] there were managed these activities: ''The Fluxus Festivals'' in [[Vilnius]] (1966), [[Prague]] (1966), [[Budapest]] (1969), and [[Poznań]] (1977). Knížák was also visited by American [[beatnik]] poet [[Allen Ginsberg]] and [[conceptual art]] artist [[Joseph Kosuth]].


[[George Maciunas]] invited Knížák to the United States in 1965 and he participated in [[Fluxus]] events there. He realized his ''Lying'' [[Ceremony]] in [[New Brunswick]] and the ''Difficult Ceremony'' in [[New York City]]. Maciunas prepared the publication of Knížák's ''Collected Works'' as a [[Fluxus]] Edition.
==== Fluxus festival in Prague (1966) ====
In the 60 years Milan Knížák lived in the street directly in the New World. There was also visited by an American [[beatnik]] poet [[Allen Ginsberg]] or [[minimalism|minimal]] artist [[Joseph Kosuth]]. In October 1966, Milan Knížák organised the first [[Fluxus]] concert in [[Czechoslovakia]] in Prague. in which he appeared together with [[Ben Vautier]], [[Jeff Berner]], [[Alison Knowles]], [[Serge Oldenbourg]] and [[Dick Higgins]]. [[George Maciunas]] invited Knížák to the US in 1965. He had a [[visa (document)|visa]] in 1968. He participated in the [[Fluxus]] events there.


In October 1966, Knížák organised the first [[Fluxus]] concert in [[Czechoslovakia]] in Prague in which he appeared together with [[Ben Vautier]], Jeff Berner, [[Alison Knowles]], Serge Oldenbourg and [[Dick Higgins]].
⚫
He realised his Lying [[Ceremony]] in New Brunswick and the "Difficult Ceremony" in New York. [[George Maciunas]] prepared the publication of Knížák's collected works as a [[Fluxus]] Edition. He returned to [[Czechoslovakia]] in 1970. His works was exhibited in the galleries in the [[East bloc]], f.e. [[Kraków]] in Poland, [[Budapest]] in Hungary but also in [[Capitalism|capitalistic]] Austria. In 1979 he received a [[Scholarship|fellowship]] from the [[German Academic Exchange Service|DAAD]] to [[West Berlin]], where he meet with artists [[Wolf Vostell]] and Czech poet in emigration[[Jiří Kolář]]. In [[West Berlin]] he cooperated like a designer on one [[avantgard]] film and created the [[Automobile industry|automobile]] cycle of [[collage]]s for the [[trust (company)|trust]] of [[Volkswagen]].

⚫
Knížák returned to [[Czechoslovakia]] in 1970. His works were exhibited in the galleries in the [[East bloc]], f.e. [[Kraków]] in Poland, [[Budapest]] in Hungary, but also in [[Capitalism|capitalistic]] Austria. In 1979 he received a [[Scholarship|fellowship]] from the [[German Academic Exchange Service|DAAD]] to [[West Berlin]], where he meet artist [[Wolf Vostell]] and Czech poet in emigration [[Jiří Kolář]]. In [[West Berlin]] he worked as a designer on an [[avant-garde]] film and created the [[Automobile industry|automobile]] cycle of [[collage]]s for [[Volkswagen]].


=== Political activities ===
=== Political activities ===
During the communist era he was under police [[surveillance]] and called "[[Enemy of the state|Enemy of the State]]". He was also arrested during an event with the music band [[The Plastic People of the Universe]]. In 1998 he unsuccessfully ran for the [[Senate]] /independent, supported by the [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|ODS]]/. Milan Knížák was director of the Czech National Gallery in Prague between 1999 and 2011.
During the communist era Knížák was under police [[surveillance]] and was called an [[Enemy of the state|Enemy of the State]]. He was arrested during an event with the music band [[The Plastic People of the Universe]].

In 2010 he became a [[recipient]] of the Medal of Merit.
: ''"I am a controversial figure, and as a controversial figure I received this award. And I received it from the controversial President [[Václav Klaus|Klaus]]. Are you satisfied with that?"''<ref>http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/highest-state-awards-given-to-twenty-two-outstanding-men-and-women. {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>


=== Awards and positions ===
==Critiques==
In 1998 Knížák unsuccessfully ran for the [[Senate]] as an independent, supported by the [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|ODS]]/. In 2010 he was awarded the [[Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)|Medal of Merit]] by the [[Czech Republic]].<ref>http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/highest-state-awards-given-to-twenty-two-outstanding-men-and-women {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206013607/http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/highest-state-awards-given-to-twenty-two-outstanding-men-and-women |date=6 December 2010 }}</ref> Knížák was director of the [[Czech National Gallery]] in Prague between 1999 and 2011.
His post of [[general director]] of the [[National Gallery in Prague]] Milan Knizak has held for over ten years. In this time period he was criticised by artists [[David Černý]], [[Jiří David]], group [[Guma guar]] and [[Rafani]] or the organizers of the first [[Prague Biennale]] in 2005, [[Giancarlo Politi]] and magazine [[Flash Art]]. Criticism of them in particular contains Knizak's disregard of current artistic trends and Milan Knizak's opponents:
* 2000 leaving of [[Katarína Rusnáková]]
* In January 2000, culminated a dispute between the [[National Gallery, Prague|National Gallery]] and the "[[The Center of Franz Kafka|Center of Franz Kafka]]", represented by [[Marta Železná]].
*In 2000 and 2001, Milan Knížák acquired for the National Gallery a number of pieces, including a unique collection of 1250 [[Anatolia]]n carpets and 156 objects from Asia; all of these were gifts from the German collector [[Rainer Kreissl]]. In 2001 Kreissl gave the Gallery four paintings supposedly by [[Alexander Rodchenko]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radio.cz/cz/zpravy/22580 |title=Novým českým ministrem obrany byl jmenován Jaroslav Tvrdík |access-date=2015-05-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050129081216/http://www.radio.cz/cz/zpravy/22580 |archive-date=29 January 2005 }}</ref> Soon after an expert examination proved that they were worthless fakes, which is, however, quite common among [[russian avant-garde]] works.<ref>[http://kultura.idnes.cz/sberatel-kreissl-daroval-ng-platna-pripisovana-rodcenkovi-pop-/vytvarneum.asp?c=A000127130747vytvarneum_toy Sběratel Kreissl daroval NG plátna připisovaná Rodčenkovi] na kultura. idnes. cz</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/the-nouveau-fakes-russian-avant-garde-forgeries-1772831.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/the-nouveau-fakes-russian-avant-garde-forgeries-1772831.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=The nouveau fakes: Russian avant-garde forgeries|date=16 August 2009|website=The Independent|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref>
* From his friend, Knížák bought for the Gallery a [[conceptual art]] sculpture "Auto" by [[Joseph Beuys]] for 500,000 euros. The purchase was investigated by police as overpriced and not according to the policies of the Gallery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10095529394-tyden-v-kulture/208411058170004/|title=Týden v kultuře|website=Česká televize|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref>
* 2000, The [[Jindřich Chalupecký Award]]. After a dispute between Milan Knížák and [[David Černý]] of Černý's statues placement in the [[Veletržní Palác]] [[Laureate]] [[David Černý]] was leading out by [[Security guard|guard]]s on the street [[Battle of the Dukla Pass|Dukelských hrdinů]]. [[Václav Havel]] was forced to pass the price on the [[sidewalk]] in front of the palace (now there is open air [[mammoth]] [[sculpture gallery]]) as David Černý refused to enter to the [[National Gallery, Prague|National Gallery]] as long as it is led by Milan Knížák. [[Václav Havel]] said the likeness about A [[Everybody Draw Mohammed Day|Muhammad]] and the Mount. Later The [[Jindřich Chalupecký]] Award was removed from [[Prague]] to [[Brno]].
* 2002, a dispute between [[Josef Lada]]'s copyright holders and artist [[Tomáš Vaněk]]. Milan Knížák decided Vaněk's pictures cover by white textiles /pictures were sprayed on the walls/ until the dispute will be resolved.
* 2004 the group [[Rafani]] visiting the [[Veletržní palác]] and publicly shit on the floor of the exhibition of [[Czech and Slovak Art]] of the 1960s like a protest against the leadership of the [[National Gallery in Prague]]. Their event was described by themselves like a performance. Milan Knížák talking about them like: "Rafani are the largest [[Convention (meeting)|convention]] under the sun. They are so careful ...".
* 2007 Milan Knizak's own price for young artist /younger than 33 years/ called "cena 333" (The Award 333) is awarded by the [[National Gallery, Prague|National Gallery]]. [[CEZ Group|CEZ]] Foundation supports it. Prize was awarded the group of Ztohoven. Milan Knížák appreciated their risky intervention in the Czech Television, sometimes erroneously called such as [[Computer crime|hacking]], in which illegally broke into the private property of Czech Radiocommunications, climbed into one of the transmitters and over installed cameras they entered into the live broadcast like a very original [[Nuclear weapon|atomic]] explosion.
* 2008, Group "Time for a change" wanted a new international competition for Milan Knížák's post. The main representative of this requirement was artist [[Jiří David]]. Milan Knížák described him like a mentally disturbed person with a large inner [[paranoia]].


==Pedagogy==
==Pedagogy==
Milan Knížák is a professor of [[intermedia]] at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague since 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avu.cz/user/350 |title=AVU |publisher=Avu.cz |access-date=2012-07-30}}</ref> His pupils have included [[Jana Šindelová]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hollar.cz/umelci/sindelova-jana/|title=Šindelová Jana &#124; Hollar|access-date=Oct 14, 2019}}</ref>
Milan Knížák is a professor of [[intermedia]] at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague since 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avu.cz/user/350 |title=AVU |publisher=Avu.cz |access-date=2012-07-30}}</ref> His pupils have included [[Jana Šindelová]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hollar.cz/umelci/sindelova-jana/|title=Šindelová Jana &#124; Hollar|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref>
* 1998: [[École cantonale d'art de Lausanne]] (ECAL), [[Lausanne]], [[Switzerland]] – lectures, lecture on history of performance art
* 1998: [[École cantonale d'art de Lausanne]] (ECAL), [[Lausanne]], [[Switzerland]] – lectures, lecture on history of performance art
* 1997: Centre Georges Pompidou, Domaine de Boisbuchet, France – extension and pedagogy
* 1997: Centre Georges Pompidou, Domaine de Boisbuchet, France – extension and pedagogy
Line 81: Line 63:
* 2010 He became the holder of the [[Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)|Medal of Merit]]
* 2010 He became the holder of the [[Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)|Medal of Merit]]


==Selected Knížák Fluxus Event Specification==
==Exhibitions==
* 1965: '''Fashion''', specification: Cut the coat along its entire length. Wear each half separately.
* 1965 ''Fashion'' specification: Cut a coat along its entire length. Wear each half separately.
* 1965: '''Cat''', specification: Get a cat.
* 1965 ''Cat'' specification: Get a cat.
* 1965–1970: '''Killing the Books''', specification: by shooting, by burning, by drowning, by cutting, by gluing, by painting white, or red, or black...
* 1965–1970 ''Killing the Books'' specification: By shooting, by burning, by drowning, by cutting, by gluing, by painting white, or red, or black...
* 1968: '''Lying Ceremony''': specification: Blindfolded people lie on the ground for a long time. New York, [[New Brunswick]]. USA.
* 1968 ''Lying Ceremony'' specification: Blindfolded people lie on the ground for a long time.


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 92: Line 74:
==References==
==References==
* Milan Knížák's books: [https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=Milan%20Knizak&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3AMilan%20Knizak&page=1 Amazon.com: Milan Knizak: Books]
* Milan Knížák's books: [https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=Milan%20Knizak&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3AMilan%20Knizak&page=1 Amazon.com: Milan Knizak: Books]
* Milan Knížák on artlist: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811214454/http://artlist.cz/?id=526 Milan Knížák — Artlist — databáze současného umění]
* Milan Knížák on artlist: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811214454/http://artlist.cz/?id=526 Milan Knížák – Artlist – databáze současného umění]


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.archivioconz.com/collection/artists/milan-knizak/ Archivio Conz]
* [http://www.artnotart.com/fluxus/mknizak--.html Artnotart.com]
* [http://www.artnotart.com/fluxus/mknizak--.html Artnotart.com]
* [http://www.radio.cz/en/article/98450 Milan Knizak opens solo exhibition at Manes Gallery – Czech Radio]
* [http://www.radio.cz/en/article/98450 Milan Knizak opens solo exhibition at Manes Gallery – Czech Radio]
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[[Category:Czech poets]]
[[Category:Czech poets]]
[[Category:Czech male poets]]
[[Category:Czech male poets]]
[[Category:Czech contemporary artists]]
[[Category:Writers from Plzeň]]
[[Category:Writers from Plzeň]]
[[Category:Recipients of Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)]]
[[Category:Recipients of Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)]]
[[Category:Academy of Fine Arts, Prague alumni]]
[[Category:Academy of Fine Arts, Prague alumni]]
[[Category:Installation artists]]

Latest revision as of 23:34, 31 August 2024

Milan Knížák
Photo from one the contemporary Milan Knizak's protests against location and politicization of new National Library in Prague.
Born (1940-04-19) 19 April 1940 (age 84)
Plzeň, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
NationalityCzech
EducationAcademy of Fine Arts, Prague
Known forPerformances, sculpture, visual art, aesthetics, art philosophy
AwardsRecipient of the Medal of Merit Czech Republic – 28 October 2010

Milan Knížák (Czech: [ˈmɪlan ˈkɲiːʒaːk]; born 19 April 1940) is a Czech performance artist,[1] sculptor, noise musician,[2] installation artist, political dissident, graphic artist, art theorist and pedagogue of art associated with Fluxus.[3]

Biography

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Childhood and early life in the Protectorate and in the former Sudetenland (1940–1960)

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Milan Knizak is the son of the painter, musician and teacher of mathematics[4] Karel Knížák from Doubravka u Plzně, nowadays part of the town Plzeň, and Julia Knížáková. The parents taught in Jarov (1932–1934)[5] and later in Blovice close to Pilsen. Milan Knížák was born in Plzeň on 19 April 1940. In 1945,[6] after the expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia[7] the family moved to the Mariánské Lázně, a spa town in the former Sudetenland, close to the German border. There, his father played violin in a spa orchestra and Milan attended primary school, where he was interested in music and literature. He also took piano, trumpet and guitar lessons.

Studies and beginnings (1955–1965)

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Knížák started painting at fourteen in Mariánské Lázně where his first exhibition was held in 1958.[8] He attended secondary/high-school (Gymnasium in Planá u Mariánských Lázní) and graduated in 1957.[9] On several occasions young Knížák visited the studio of the painter Vladimír Modrý (1907–1976). Later Knížák wrote in his diary[10] about the movie Fantastic Voyage and how its fantastic scenes reminded him of the paintings of Modrý.[11] During the period of mid-1957 to 1958 he attended the Pedagogical University in Prague, majoring in art education and Russian language. In 1958 he dropped out and became an assistant worker at Prague's exhibition grounds. He later passed the exams at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, but soon abandoned his studies there. He then studied mathematical analysis at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University for one year.

Actual and public art (1960–1975)

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At the beginning of the 1960s, he created his first activity – happenings, ceremonies, installations and various environments on the busy or calm streets or in courtyards of Prague.

Together with his friends he founded a group of contemporary art called Actual Art. Sometime around 1966 the word "art" was dropped from the name and group was called poor AKTUAL. Already known and also documented are their actions in the part of old Prague called New World, such as Demonstration of One (1964). Some of AKTUAL's songs were remastered by unofficial musical group The Plastic People of the Universe, which members became, somewhat against their will, dissidents during political process in the autumn of the year 1976.

Knížák was a member of Fluxus, an international (anti-)artistic community of music, actions, poetry, objects and events. Knížák was director of Fluxus East from the year 1965. He is known for organising and performing the first happenings and noise music concerts in Czechoslovakia: e.g. A Walk around Novy Svět (The part of old Prague called New World) and the Demonstration for Oneself (both 1964). Later he had contacts with the first contact mediated Czech philosopher Jindřich Chalupecký. Knížák was promoted to Director Fluxus East by director George Maciunas about 1965. In the countries of former Eastern Bloc there were managed these activities: The Fluxus Festivals in Vilnius (1966), Prague (1966), Budapest (1969), and Poznań (1977). Knížák was also visited by American beatnik poet Allen Ginsberg and conceptual art artist Joseph Kosuth.

George Maciunas invited Knížák to the United States in 1965 and he participated in Fluxus events there. He realized his Lying Ceremony in New Brunswick and the Difficult Ceremony in New York City. Maciunas prepared the publication of Knížák's Collected Works as a Fluxus Edition.

In October 1966, Knížák organised the first Fluxus concert in Czechoslovakia in Prague in which he appeared together with Ben Vautier, Jeff Berner, Alison Knowles, Serge Oldenbourg and Dick Higgins.

Knížák returned to Czechoslovakia in 1970. His works were exhibited in the galleries in the East bloc, f.e. Kraków in Poland, Budapest in Hungary, but also in capitalistic Austria. In 1979 he received a fellowship from the DAAD to West Berlin, where he meet artist Wolf Vostell and Czech poet in emigration Jiří Kolář. In West Berlin he worked as a designer on an avant-garde film and created the automobile cycle of collages for Volkswagen.

Political activities

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During the communist era Knížák was under police surveillance and was called an Enemy of the State. He was arrested during an event with the music band The Plastic People of the Universe.

Awards and positions

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In 1998 Knížák unsuccessfully ran for the Senate as an independent, supported by the ODS/. In 2010 he was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Czech Republic.[12] Knížák was director of the Czech National Gallery in Prague between 1999 and 2011.

Pedagogy

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Milan Knížák is a professor of intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague since 1990.[13] His pupils have included Jana Šindelová.[14]

  • 1998: École cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL), Lausanne, Switzerland – lectures, lecture on history of performance art
  • 1997: Centre Georges Pompidou, Domaine de Boisbuchet, France – extension and pedagogy
  • 1991, 1992: Vitra Museum, Weil am Rhein, BRD – lectures
  • 1991: Sommerakademie Berlin, BRD – pedagogy
  • 1990 -1997: Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, chancellor and professor of intermedia
  • since 1989: professor of intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague[15]
  • 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996: Inter. Sommerakademie Salzburg, Rakousko – pedagogy and lectures
  • 1983: HfBK Hamburg, BRD – lectures on art
  • 1969: University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA + UCLA, Los Angeles, USA – lectures on performance art

Awards

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Selected Knížák Fluxus Event Specification

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  • 1965 Fashion specification: Cut a coat along its entire length. Wear each half separately.
  • 1965 Cat specification: Get a cat.
  • 1965–1970 Killing the Books specification: By shooting, by burning, by drowning, by cutting, by gluing, by painting white, or red, or black...
  • 1968 Lying Ceremony specification: Blindfolded people lie on the ground for a long time.

Notes

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  1. ^ Claire Bishop, "I. Prague: From Actions to Ceremonies", in Artificial Hells: Participatory Art and the Politics of Spectatorship, Verso Books, 2012, pp 131-140
  2. ^ Caleb Kelly, "Milan Knížák's Broken Music", in Cracked Media: The Sound of Malfunction, The MIT Press, 2009, pp 140-149
  3. ^ Tomáš Pospiszyl, Milan Knížák and Ken Friedman: Keeping Together Manifestations in a Divided World, New York: MoMA 2015
  4. ^ "SPÁLENOPOŘÍČSKÝ ZPRAVODAJ". spaleneporici.cz. Retrieved 19 September 2012.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ Chronicle of Jarov http://www.obecjarov.cz/jarovska-skola/d-1023/p1=1031 Archived 19 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Životopis – Milan Knížák.cz". Milanknizak.com. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  7. ^ Ing. Richard Švandrlík. "Hamelika – Osídlování Mariánských Lázní v roce 1945". Hamelika.cz. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  8. ^ Volf, Petr: Hermafrodit Milan Knížák, 1998
  9. ^ Glückselig, Josef: gangsteři v galeriích, s.159, Magnet 7, 1969
  10. ^ Milan Kňížák: Cestopisy IV., p.158, Radost, Praha, 1990
  11. ^ Vladimír Modrý 2004 "Milan Knížák: "Spolu s malířem Modrým sdílím strach z duchovní lůzy"". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  12. ^ http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/highest-state-awards-given-to-twenty-two-outstanding-men-and-women Archived 6 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "AVU". Avu.cz. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  14. ^ "Šindelová Jana | Hollar". Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Ateliéry Avu: Škola Intermediální Tvorby Milana Knižáka – Artyčok.Tv". Artycok.tv. Retrieved 26 July 2012.

References

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