Exhibitions
Markéta Luskačová
12 August – 7 October 2023
Edinburgh Art Festival Preview 11 August, 5-7pm
This year Stills will present the first exhibition in Scotland dedicated to the work of Prague-born, UK-based photographer, Markéta Luskačová. The exhibition will concentrate on Luskačová’s photographs of children. An interest in the life of children permeates almost all of Luskačová’s work and there were several years when this was the main subject of her photography as seen in the series, ‘Citizen 2000’ (1986-2000) and in her work from the 1960s onwards documenting: Pilgrims; Juvenile Jazz Bands in the North of England; Durham Cathedral and Chorister School; London markets; Chiswick Women’s Aid; and carnivals in the Czech Republic.
Luskačová was born in 1944 and became a freelance photographer in 1968 whilst undertaking postgraduate studies in Photography at the Academy of Film and Fine Arts, Prague. She relocated to London in 1975 and was a Nominee Photographer with Magnum Photographic Agency, Paris from 1976-80. Since 1971, Luskačová’s work has featured in exhibitions around the world and notable solo exhibitions have been held at the V&A, London (1983-84); Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, then a branch of the V&A, London (1989) Whitechapel Gallery, London (1991); Stills Gallery, Sydney, Australia (1998); Leica Gallery, Prague (2014); Tate Britain, London (2018-19); and The Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol (2019).
Stills’ Director Ben Harman says: “We are really excited to present the first exhibition in Scotland dedicated to the photography of Markéta Luskačová. Markéta has made a valuable and unique contribution to photography since the 1960s through her distinctive, curious and tender picturing of people, communities and places in the UK and abroad. Although she is highly regarded and well respected for her work, it is generally acknowledged that her photography has consistently been overlooked in favour of work by her male peers. Over time, Markéta’s pictures have gained in historic significance as many of the subjects of her photographs – people, places, communities and ways of life – have changed or disappeared. Our exhibition will be made up of photographs that depict children – a subject that permeates much of her work.”
This exhibition has been developed in partnership with the Centre for British Photography, London where it will be presented from January – April 2024.
The exhibition is kindly supported by Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Czech Centre London and Bellfield Brewery.
About Czech Centre London:
Czech Centre London promotes the Czech Republic in the UK through culture, art, innovations and creativity. Its programme covers visual and performing art, film, literature, music, architecture, design and fashion, science and social innovations. The Czech Centre also enhances cultural relations between the UK and the Czech Republic through curatorial visits, media tours and artist residencies. The Czech Centre also runs Czech language courses and certified exams. It is a member of EUNIC London.