Vladimír Houdek’s exhibition Parabola at the Smečky Gallery presents, for the first time, a selection of his work focused on collage. Though primarily known as one of the most compelling painters of his generation, Houdek’s artistic practice spans multiple media, including video and collage. His engagement with collage dates back to his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague and has influenced even his large-format paintings, which earned him the Jindřich Chalupecký Award in 2012.

Parabola
The title Parabola serves as both a metaphor and a reference to the geometric curve, where all points are equidistant from a given point and line. In this sense, collage and painting represent two equal “sets of points” that together form the complete shape of Houdek’s artistic vision. His collages—composed from clippings of books, magazines, and publications—are not just a side project but an integral part of his creative process, as essential as his painting. The reference to the parabola also reflects Houdek’s fascination with geometric perfection, a theme that has long informed his work.

Text: Ondřej Horák