About

Biography

Pavel Mrkus portrait

Pavel Mrkus is an audiovisual artist who works in the field of digital moving images and sounds often concerning specific spaces. He graduated from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. His later study of Religious Studies at Charles University in Prague together with his four years of teaching position at Toyama City Institute of Glass Art in Japan led him to a unique mixture of cultural paradigms within his work. After showing at the 50th Venice Biennial in 2003 he participated in many group and solo shows internationally. He was awarded Personality of the Year 2012 for his digital media-based exhibition Next Planet in The Brno House of Arts. Together with visual artist Daniel Hanzlík, they established a Time-Based Media studio at the Faculty of Art and Design at J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. Between the years 2015 – 2023, he served as a dean of the Faculty of Art and Design. Besides his fine art projects in digital and media art, he is also active as an architect and designer of permanent and temporal exhibitions for museums and galleries. Since 2023 he has been active as a head curator of the Signal Festival in Prague.

Contacts

Study

1998–2000

Faculty of Theology, Charles University, Prague

1991

Polytechnic University, Stoke on Trent, England

1989–1995

Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, Prague

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2025

Dawn. Fine Art Gallery, Hodonín

2022

Another Place. Schafhof - Europaisches Kunstlerhaus Freising

2021

Science Friction. Gallery Jelení, Prague

2021

Observatory. Gallery Caesar, Olomouc

2018

Seeing Time. GASK, Kutná Hora (with Daniel Hanzlík)

Survival Rules. Zona Gallery, Szczecin (with Daniel Hanzlík)

Fading Codes. Schemnitz Gallery, Banská Štiavnica (with Tomáš Rafa)

2017

Transformator. The New Stage, National Theatre, Prague

R.E.D. Museum of Modern Art, Olomouc

2016

Processor. Gallery Alfa, Košice

Another Time, Modern Art Gallery, Roudnice nad Labem

2015

Radiolaria, Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

2014

Great Render. Die Aktualität des Schönen..., Liberec

2012

Next Planet. Pori Art Museum, Pori

2011

Next Planet. House of Art, Brno

2008

Space Walk. Galleria Contemporaneo, Mestre/Venice

Water Tales. Gallery Jelení, Prague

Iris. Büro für Kunst, Dresden

2007

F. A. Q., Kunsthalle Dresden (with Daniel Hanzlík)

2006

Space Walk, House of Art, České Budějovice

2005

Seagull. Büro für Kunst, Dresden

Scanner. Kunstverein Viernheim

Shift. Gallery Jan Koniarek, Synagoga Trnava (with Daniel Hanzlík)

2004

A Prayer of PW20/LW. Kunstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf

KotoPlay. Chromosome, Gallery for International Media Art, Berlin

Patterns. Daimaru Dept. Store, Osaka

Stray Currents. Mau Fine Art Gallery, Toyama (+ J. Hongo)

2003

Fragmented. Gallery BAU, Toyama

A Prayer off. Büro für Kunst, Dresden

In Between. Gallery Enomoto, Osaka

2000

Es fiel ein Reif. Atrium, Moravian Gallery, Brno

1999

Unreacheable. Gallery by the White Unicorn, Klatovy

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024

Art Taipei – Variety of Stories. Taipei

HK Walls. Hong Kong

Re-composing history with impression. Art Space 1999, Fu Tak Building, Hong Kong

Planet ID: vzpomínky na Zemi. Modern Art Gallery, Roudnice nad Labem

Open Horizon. Image–Space–Landscape. Galerie Františka Drtikola, Příbram

2023

Myšlení obrazem. Prague City Gallery, Prague

Hérakleitův princip. Modern Art Gallery, Roudnice nad Labem

Obrazy nad čísly. Konkrétní digitální a počítačová grafika. Museum of Photography, Jindřichův Hradec

Liberec Art Week. The North Bohemian Museum in Liberec

Volume – acoustic dimension in contemporary art. EPO 1 Trutnov

2022

Power of Lace. Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

Ráj je vždy jen věcí volby. Oblastní galerie Vysočiny, Jihlava

2021

Cache. Gallery Rudolfinum, Prague

Plan B. Smetanova výtvarná Litomyšl

...a ptáci opět zpívají. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

2020

Krajina 0. Kvalitář Gallery, Prague

Inhabitated. House of Art, Ústí nad Labem

Lungomare. European City of Culture, Rijeka, Croatia

2019

Sounds, Codes, Images. Prague City Gallery, Prague

Boudník. Moravian Gallery, Brno

Kosmos. Gallery U bílého jednorožce, Klatovy

2018

Minimal Difference. Kvalitář Gallery, Prague

Mo(nu)mental Topography. Ústi nad Labem

Energy of first Line. Gallery of Modern Art Hradec Králové

2017

Inner Image. Appearing/Dissapearing Images. Galeria Arsenal Bialystok and

Signal Festival. Prague

Interiors of the Soul. Western Bohemian Gallery Plzeň

2016

Space. Gallery NOD, Prague

Frontiers of Solitude. Gallery Školská 28, Prague

Skaftfell Art Center. Seydisfjordur, Island

Epiphany. House of Art Usti nad Labem

2015

Arte Laguna Prize. Telecom Italia Future Centre, Arsenale, Venezia

Exakta. Galerie NoD, Prague

Jak nic nechtít? Festival 4+4 Days in Motion. Prague

3x2 pro klášter. Broumov Monastery, Broumov

Ze středu ven. Umění regionů 1985–2010. Kunsthalle/Hala umenia Košice

Breaking out of Dilemma. Rotor Centre for Contemporary Art, Graz

2014

Awaking Dragon. National Gallery, Prague

Rekurze 1.618. Liberec Regional Gallery, Liberec

2013

Problem is Here. 4+4 dny v pohybu, Prague

Social Design. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Doteky hudby / Touches of Music. North Bohemian Gallery of Fine Arts, Litoměřice

Fußnoten zum Aufbruch. Motorenhalle, Dresden

2012

Geometrův zlý sen. Topičův salon, Prague

CAMP 12. International Festival for Visual Music, Württenbergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart

Play Well. Czech Center, New York

Sinnesrausch. OK Offenes Kulturhaus Linz

Future, Landscape. Parco del Contemporaneo, Venice

Generator. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

2011

Edge Park. Forte Marghera, Venice

Parallel History. North Bohemian Gallery of Fine Arts, Litoměřice

Rhytmic Exercises. BWA Sokol, Nowy Sacz

Scheinbar Sein, Faktisches und Virtuelles. Altana Gallery, Dresden

2010

Formate der Transformation 89–09. Museum auf Abruf – MUSA, Vienna

Play. Mánes, Prague

One Day You Will Lose It All. 4+4 dny v pohybu, ULUV, Prague

Fertile Ground. Museum of Glass, Tacoma

A Part of No-Part. Chelsea Art Museum, New York

2009

Moving Artist. Motorenhalle, Dresden

Labyrint světla. Ecotechnical Muzeum, Prague

Place in Heart. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Hell of Things. Galerie Kronika, Bytom

2008

Once is Nothing. Brussels Biennial, Brussels

Obraz, komunikace, styl, funkce, koncept. Veletržní palác, National Gallery, Prague

Spiknutí. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Place In Heart,. Galeria Arsenal, Bialystok

Be A Happy Worker: Work-To-Rule! Galerija Miroslav Kraljevic, Zagreb

Close Encounters. Fine Arts Center Galleries, University of Rhode Island, Kingston,

2007

New Video Art from Central Europe, RISD Museum, Providence

2006

New Mystics. Sala de Arte Contemporaneo, Tenerife, Canarias

Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. Niigata, Art Front Gallery, Tokyo

Modern Time Work, Machineries and Automation in the Arts of 1900. Palazzo Ducale, Genova

Frisbee. Contemporary Czech Video and Media Art, House of Art, Brno

The Destiny of Paradise is in its Geometry. Kunstverein KISS, Untergroningen

ArteFiera Bologna

Arco Madrid

2005

Helden Heute. Centre PasquArt, Biel Bienne

Roboter. Opelvillen Rüsselsheim

Der Rote Teppich. Kunstverein KISS, Untergroningen

Captured in Light and Space. EXPO 2005, Shimin Plaza Gallery, Toyama

Vladimir Kopecky and his Sphere. Chappell Gallery, New York

2004

Sputniza. Kunsthaus, Dresden

Loop 04. Videoart Festival, Barcelona

Frisbee: Contemporary Czech Video Art. MNAC, Bucurest

Paralel Projections. House of Art, Opava

Individual Systems. Museo Archeologico, Potenza

Art Brussels

The International Exhibition of Glass. Kanazawa

Hot Destination/Marginal Destiny. House of Art, Brno

Video Programm of BDV Paris. Georges, Centre Pompidou, Paris

2003

La Biennale di Venezia, Individual Systems. Arsenale, Venice

Mission Possible. 1st Prague Biennale, National Gallery, Prague

Another Movement. Kanazawa

Glass Works 2003. Art Gallery Shimin Plaza, Toyama

Vessels. Koganezaki Crystal Park, Koganezaki

2002

IV. Biennial of Young Artists. Gallery of Prague City

Monochromy in Czech Art of the 90ties. Czech Museum of Fine Art, Prague

Walking. Gallery Skuc, Ljubljana

Japan Contemporary Glass Exhibition. Notojima

2001

KK. House of Art, Opava

2000

Melancholy. Moravian Gallery, Brno

Unclear Evidence. House of Art, České Budějovice

2nd Zlin Show of Young Artists. State Gallery, Zlín

Via 2000. Gallery Via Art, Prague

1999

Art for Hospital. V. Spala Gallery, Prague

K nebi. Gallery Stemberk, Šternberk

KK. Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava

L`arte contemporana Ceca. Palazzo Coen, Salo

Laboratory. Gallery Sypka, Vlkov u Brna

Works in collections

GASK, The Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region

Prague City Gallery

Museum of Decorative Arts Prague

NSU, Foundation for Contemporary Arts Prague

The North Bohemian Museum in Liberec

Anita Beckers Gallery Frankfurt

Toyama City Collection

Glass Museum Notojima

Crystal Park Koganezaki

Other private collections

Commisions in public space and institutions

2025

Where Have All the Flowers Gone. Exhibition design for Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

2025

All Kinds of Colors. Video for LED wall, Hong Kong Design Institute, Hong Kong

2024

Through the Labyrinth. New permanent exhibition. Architectural exhibition design, GASK Gallery of Central Bohemian Region in Kutna Hora (with Daniel Hanzlík)

2022

The Power of Lace/ Lace–Art–Garment 1950–2020. Exhibition design for Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

2019

Mad Silkman. Zika and Lida Ascher: textile and fashion. Exhibition design and videos for Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

2014

Vně a uvnitř. Exhibition design and videos for Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

2011

Indikátor. Permanent data video installation for Czech Statistical Office, Prague

Exposition of Astronomy. 12 videos for the National Technical Museum, Prague

2010

Neuron. Light object for Faculty of Art and Design at J. E. Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem

1998

Czech Center, Brussels

Symposiums

2000

International Glass Symposium. Crystalex Novy Bor

1997

Near The Beginning. Center For Metamedia, Plasy

Scholarships

2004

Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf

Awards

2013

Osobnost roku 2012 / Personality of the Year 2012, Art and Antiques, Prague

2003

Honorable Mention, Vessels, Koganezaki

2002

Silver Prize, Japan Contemporary Glass Art, Glass Museum, Notojima

Honorable Mention, Contemporary Glass Triennial, Toyama

Teaching positions

2008 – 2024

Time-Based Media Studio at Faculty of Art and Design at J. E. Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem

2007–2008

Artcrossing: Art (in) Motion, Developing art-educational program for National Gallery Prague

2006

Faculty in Glass and Digital Media depts. at Rhode Island School of Design, Providence

2005–2008

Teaching Assistant at Studio of Digital Media at Liberec University of Technology

2000–2004

Visiting Associate Professor at Toyama City Institute of Glass Art, Toyama

1995–2000

Teaching Assistant in Glass Studio at Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, CZE