The exhibition Future Past connects two prominent figures in Czech art, Josef Bolf (*1971), a contemporary painter and draftsman, and Josef Váchal (1884–1969), a versatile artist from the first half of the 20th century. Although their work is separated by almost a century, they are united by a similar sensitivity to dark visions that emerge from the human unconscious. Both share a fascination with cosmology and tarot archetypes, which reflect an ancient desire to understand hidden forces. 

Bolf creates introspective images set in nocturnal, dreamlike landscapes, in which childhood memories, dreams, and the existential anxiety of contemporary man intertwine. His melancholic figures and housing estate scenes radiate a quiet but intense atmosphere.

In his paintings, drawings, prints, and books, Váchal reflects on the spiritual crisis of the modern age. His demonic and apocalyptic visions are both fascinating and critical, stemming from his deep fascination with magic and the occult.

The exhibition is conceived as a journey – from the introspective landscapes of Josef Bolf to the mystical imagination of Josef Váchal. Its central motif is the desire to look “elsewhere”: into dreams, fragments of memories, and visualizations of inner processes. The climax is a joint fresco composed of paintings and drawings that refers to their shared fascination with human souls in the astral spheres and afterlife.

Future Past is neither a retrospective nor a confrontation, but an encounter in timelessness, where reality mixes with imagination. “Does the world exist only as an idea or a dream? And who actually dreams it?” asks Josef Bolf – and together with Váchal, he invites visitors to search for the answer.

Curator: Sandra Baborovská