Jan Hísek - Night Rider

Hísek’s visions are visual poems rather than typical paintings; they mainly stem from an original understanding of form. His images do not have thought out compositions, he creates them intuitively, individual motifs multiply or meander into other spaces where they often transform in form and meaning. … The artist’s personality is an integral part of his work, his sensibility and sensitivity are deeply present in it.

Otto M.Urban

Jan Hísek is a unique artist, or perhaps it is better to say that he stands outside of time. His work has taken its own course, completely independent from contemporary trends, movements and discussions, it has its own dynamics, tempo, themes and approach. The public is mostly familiar with his delicately elaborate prints, mostly mezzotints, which illustrate various texts, but which are also published as separate collections and single editions. The innermost core of his work is made up of paintings, it is specific for Hísek to develop the theme as an ornament, in an indeterminate space, the logic of the visible is given over to the service of the invisible, or more precisely it is made visible but only through his inner vision. The themes are often interconnected with references and connotations to a wide range of pictorial and philosophical currents from different periods in art history. The catalogue is a bibliophile edition with 33 reproductions, collecting Hísek’s most important work over the last seven years. It provides insight into the thought and work of this extraordinary Czech contemporary painter.