September 19 – November 14, 2024

Exhibition dedicated to three different artistic perspectives on sports.

Artist Ivana Štenclová will captivate art lovers with a new portrayal of the gymnastics icon Věra Čáslavská in a piece titled "Being Herself...". The portrait of Věra Čáslavská is composed of small figures in gymnastic poses, drawn from Čáslavská's own routines. The athlete's face reflects the essence of her professional life, embodying passion, perseverance, courage, and the incredible hard work she put into her extraordinary achievements, while always remaining true to herself.

Ivana Štenclová studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague between 1999 and 2005 in the drawing studio of Professor Jitka Svobodová. Drawing has remained her key means of expression to this day. She experiments with form, techniques, and industrial materials (drawing with a hot glue gun and syringe, layering images from insulation coverings, weaving them with wire, using decorative paint rollers or stamps, and burning motifs into plywood or metal with a laser). The drawn line is still a defining factor in her work, often forming patterns that go beyond mere decoration. They intensify the content of her works and often help to create it. Since 2000, when she first entered the art scene as a student, Štenclová's work has primarily focused on human relationships, especially family dynamics. She explores the relationship between individuals, space, and time at various stages of life. Initially, she analyzed her own childhood and close relatives, later incorporating her own experiences of motherhood and her daughters. She lives and works in Chvalíkovice near Opava.

Alongside her painting is the Ray of Courage and Hope of Věra Čáslavská trophy, designed by designer Maxim Velčovský. This nearly ten-kilogram massive gemstone, made of cut optical glass, symbolizes Čáslavská's life story, where her character, instead of being crushed by the pressure and oppression of the regime, was shaped like a diamond into something beautiful, pure, and strong. Inside the trophy is a unique gold-plated coin with Čáslavská’s likeness, specially made for this occasion. The piece was created in collaboration with the glass company Lasvit and the Czech Mint.

The Ray of Courage and Hope of Věra Čáslavská is an award for social responsibility in sports, presented annually by the international sports film festival Sportfilm Liberec. The first laureate was Olympic medalist, judoka Lukáš Krpálek, and last year the award was given to American athlete and painter Liston Bochette.

Liberec-based artist Marek Lavko focuses primarily on portraits, using a unique layering technique where paint is poured onto a horizontally laid canvas until the desired shape is achieved. The blending of colors creates images around the portraits, adding additional meanings to the work. Among the depicted sports stars are tennis player Roger Federer and local skier and coach Lucie Pešánová Hrstková.

Sports film fans will enjoy an exhibition of ten posters from sports films awarded with an American Oscar.

Concept Author and Curator: Mgr. Renata Balašová
Expert Collaboration: Enzo Capiello (FICTS), Lasvit, s.r.o., Czech Mint, a.s.
Exhibition Installation: Karolína Kutnarová and Martin Spěšný
Exhibition Graphic Design: Unicorn Army

Special Thanks: The exhibition would not have been possible without the support of the Statutory City of Liberec, the Liberec Region, and the Liebieg Palace in Liberec, as well as the festival partners, whom the organizers wish to thank for their support.
We also thank FICTS and all the owners of the artworks for their kind loan.