Distorted Session #8: Focus on Slovakia

The eighth instalment of the Distorted Image exhibition's accompanying programme series focuses on the Slovak art scene. It takes place on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 from 17:00 at the House of Art on Malinovského náměstí in Brno. Tickets can be purchased in advance on GoOut (pre-sale starts 8 June) or at the House of Art box office.

The programme consists of commented screenings dedicated to two Slovak artists featured in the exhibition. František Zachoval from the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové will present the work of Vladimír Havrilla (*1943) — a sculptor, painter, author of experimental films and pioneer of digital art who was a key figure in the Bratislava independent art scene in the 1970s. Under the pseudonym Roberta Weinerová, he published samizdat literature; since 1996 he has devoted himself to 3D modelling and computer animation. His works have been exhibited at, among other places, the De Appel gallery in Amsterdam and at the world exhibition EXPO '92 in Seville.

Theory scholar Ján Kralovič from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava will present the work of Ľubomír Ďurček (1948–2025), a conceptual and action artist, performer and author of experimental films. At the turn of the 1970s and 1980s, Ďurček collaborated with the Labyrinth Theatre and the Temporary Society of Intensive Experience by Ján Budaj. In his film work, he focused on communication and interpersonal relationships; his films were often based on group performances and happenings. He also created photographs, text works and artist books.

Ján Kralovič studied Art and Cultural History at the Faculty of Philosophy of Trnava University. He works at the Department of Art History and Theory at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava. He has published Teritórium ulica (2014), Majstrovstvo za dverami (2017) and Pohyb za obrazmi (2024, with Daniel Grúň). With Barbora Špičáková, he is co-editor of a publication on the book series Slovak Poetry and Open Windows (2025).

František Zachoval has headed the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové since 2019. He graduated in monumental art from the Prague Academy of Fine Arts, is a co-founder of the internet television Artyčok and from 2015–2019 was director of the Czech Centre.