GASK opened an exhibition of art by the twin sisters Květa and Jitka Válová!

‘I don’t have a single friend or acquaintance who doesn’t begin to smile when you say their name, “the Válová girls”. Their roughness and temperament, the truthfulness of their artistic testimony, their absolute inability to be afraid and not to speak their mind made them a true legend…’

Ester Krumbachová, První knížka Ester [The First Book of Esther], 1994

On 6 November, the Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region opened an exhibition of art by the twin sisters Květa and Jitka Válová with the title A Path Destined by Fate, which presents the life’s work of these two distinctive Czech artists on the centenary of their birth. The exhibition, which runs from 6 November to 19 March, is curated by GASK’s head curator, Richard Drury. Besides numerous works on loan from other gallery’s, an important part of the exhibition consists of works from both sisters’ estates that were donated to the GASK collection in 2021.

The exhibition has been conceived as a symbolic ‘pilgrimage’, divided into twelve thematic sections (reality, parallel lives, slaughter, struggle, burden, confinement, journey, conversation, touch, reconciliation, harmony, transformation) that introduce visitors to the Válová sisters’ profound artistic statements on the drama and intimacy of human existence through monumental canvases as well as small-scale drawings, sketches and prints.

An important part of the exhibition consists of works from both sisters’ estates that were donated to the GASK collection in 2021 – some 1,730 drawings, sketches and prints. Much of the works’ digitisation was done in collaboration with photographer Oto Palán and the digitisation office of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno. Also included in the exhibition are Jitka and Květa Válová’s digitised sketchbooks, which visitors can browse on tablet computers, as well as a documentary film about the sisters by Ester Krumbachová.

A Path Destined by Fate is held at the Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region from 6 November to 19 March. In conjunction with the exhibition, the gallery offers a series of guided tours and lectures where you can learn more about the art and life of the Válová sisters.

The exhibition is held under the patronage of the Czech Ministry of Culture and Mgr. Petra Pecková, Governor of the Central Bohemia Region.

The project is supported by the Central Bohemian Region, the Czech Ministry of Culture, the Town of Kutná Hora

and Gallery KODL.

GASK’s media partner is Flash Art magazine.