Drawn from the Unseen Drawings, Prints, and Hidden Narratives of Blueprint
Petra (Gupta) Valentova
Drawn from the Unseen
Drawings, Prints, and Hidden Narratives of Blueprint
Czech Center NY, Bohemian National Hall
September 9th – October 31st, 2024
The exhibition introduces New York-based multi-media artist Petra (Gupta) Valentova of Czech origin and her work with natural dyes, block printing, and the traditional Czech craft of indigo dyeing known as modrotisk. Drawn from the Unseen presents a unique collection of Valentova's works on textile and paper, incorporating plant prints, natural dyes, embroidery, drawing, and modrotisk. In her art practice, the process of blueprinting, traditionally used in textile art, is reimagined through innovative methods and collaborations.
Czech Center New York, 321 E 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021
Petra (Gupta) Valentova: Drawn from the Unseen
Drawings, Prints, and Hidden Narratives of Blueprint
Guest Artist: František Matoušek aka Francis De Nim
Exhibition at the Czech Center Gallery
Bohemian National Hall
September 9th – October 31st, 2024
The exhibition introduces, New York-based multi-media artist of Czech-origin Petra (Gupta) Valentova and her work with natural dyes, block printing, and the traditional Czech craft of indigo-dyeing known as modrotisk. In her art practice, she explores themes of identity, culture, and memory through a diverse range of media, including sculpture, installations, neon, and embroidery. Her recent work involves collaborations with craftspeople in India and artisans in the Czech Republic, where she has integrated blueprinting and hand-printed textiles into her contemporary art practice. Valentova started working with block-printed textiles during multiple artist residencies at ArtInn Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan, where her husband’s family is based. This work led to her PhD research, focusing on collaborative design and the innovation of the block printing craft.
Drawn from the Unseen features a unique collection of Valentova’s works on textile and paper, incorporating plant prints, natural dyes, embroidery, drawing, and modrotisk. The blueprinting process, traditionally used in fabric and home textiles, is reimagined through innovative collaborations, particularly with Czech artist František Matoušek also known as Francis De Nim. Together, they explore the potential of blueprinting beyond its conventional applications, creating abstracted resist prints on denim, that document the interplay of time, space, and craftsmanship. These works offer a fresh perspective on traditional methods, blending historical significance with contemporary artistic expression.
The exhibition will also feature some of Valentova’s contemporary patterns created specifically for Strážnický modrotisk www.straznicky-modrotisk.cz, and Modrotisk Danzinger www.modrotisk-danzinger.cz, the remaining blueprinting workshops still operating in the Czech Republic. She is also closely collaborating with the last two block makers, Mr. Bartoš and Mr. Plucha, creating new patterns that contribute to the innovation of the craft.
Modrotisk (also called Blaudruck, Kékfestés, or Modrotlač) translates directly as blueprint or blue-dyeing. This technique involves printing a dye-resistant paste onto fabric before dyeing it with indigo. After immersion in the indigo vat, the areas covered by the paste remain white or undyed. In 2018, UNESCO recognized this craft as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, following a joint request by Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia. The craft is still practiced today in family-owned workshops, using hand-crafted blocks and traditional methods passed down through generations.
Valentova’s innovative approach to modrotisk/blueprint and her regular collaborations with artists, performers, and designers have culminated in her participation in conferences and exhibitions, such as Móda v modré: Tradice a současnost indiga v japonském a českém textilu at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague in 2020, and Modrá: Modrá barva v tradiční kultuře a v současném designu at the Museum of Southeastern Moravia in Zlín from 2023 to 2024, among others.
Petra (Gupta) Valentova is widely recognized as both a promoter and innovator of modrotisk. Her dedication to advancing this traditional technique and her support for Czech culture and design in both the Czech Republic and the USA highlight her commitment to bridging cultural heritage with contemporary artistic practices.