ladislav vlna

The project Head 23 was conceived as a collection of portraits

of uncommon personalities on the Czech scene. The high achievers

who’s work makes them stand out, and is an inspiration to

those around them as well as for those who will follow. I have

met most of these people mainly through my work – for example

Matej Forman. I met him during the shaping of his theater

scenes. Rudolf Krautschneider I met during some boat repairs

and consequent sea voyages. And I had the opportunity to participate

in building some of Martin Rajnishe’s wooden structures.

With Vladimir Moravek we have worked together forming statues

for his theater plays. During some filming in the Barrandov

film studios I met Ladislav Lahoda.

The concept of this project was that all these wonderful people

should once meet all together at one time. This gave me

a chance to personally meet a row of other outstanding personalities.

While a student in Uherske Hradiste I have enjoyed listening

to songs of Jiri Pavlica. Martin Stepanek’s diving records

while not breathing just take your breath away in amazement.

The more I just look around me, I find that I am surrounded by

a world full of amazing people with fascinating stories.

Nothing is lost, when we can live with the knowledge that just now:

a new theater play is in making, or a beautiful song, or a unique

building, or that someone is sailing in a sailing boat towards

Antarctica.

These portraits are executed by my new unique technique,

that I have been developing mainly last eight years. Basis

is simple and interest until now

drawing. Metallurgic process obtained scale of

specific colors, hidden in steel materials, that come out to

surface.

My way to this technique led through work in locksmithery

of my father, where I have been helping since childhood.

I was so fascinated by changing of colors of different materials,

when I put them into the fire, so it kept my attention