Danieal Kartáková

(19. 1. 1965)

The sculptor and medal designer Daniela Kartáková has been in close contact with art since her early childhood. Her mother Věra Melicharová- Kartáková is a sculptor and it was partly her wish that her daughter should follow a similar career.

Daniela Kartáková devotes herself to small-size sculpture, medal design and restoration of sculptural works. Her most famous produced designs include a Salvador Dalí medal or an official set of commemorative medals dedicated to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in the Czech Republic. Her exceptional works include a bust of Johannes Brahms, which she transferred to Carrara marble on the basis of a model by the academic sculptor Milan Knobloch. The artist lives in turns in Prague and in Italian Carrara, a town famous for its marble quarries. She participated in a range of group and solo exhibitions in the Czech Republic, Italy and other countries.

Daniela Kartáková was born in Turnov. She studied at the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Žižkov, Prague, and in the studio of monumental sculpture under professor Hána at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. She completed her last year under professor Hendrych. She is a passionate admirer of the legacy of the American singer Michael Jackson.

INTERVIEW

What led you to forge such a strong bond to Italy?
During my study I was sent there for a three-month stay and I immediately fell for Italy. I discovered Carrara with its famous marble quarries, which were, by the way, visited already by Michelangelo. In its peculiar way marble is very fine, almost gentle, and I started to enjoy working with it. However, I keep coming back to Carrara not only because of artistic reasons. Staying there is a pleasant change and I always return home full of new energy.

You designed commemorative medals on the anniversary of the decease of Pope John Paul II or the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. Have you got any special relationship to the Catholic Church?
I have absolute respect for professor Petr Piťha who brought me to Christianity. He is a Catholic priest and by the way also a former minister of education, I really appreciated his humane approach very much. The professor cooperated with a company which wanted to issue a series of medals featuring Pope John Paul II, and they sent me to Rome to get inspiration. Up to that time I had been a tabula rasa regarding religious customs. What is and has always been important for me is spiritual quest, spirituality which permeates all religions without difference and which is common to all people.

Are you interested in history? Which period is closest to you?
As a whole I like the Gothic Art and styles where there is significant spirituality. Rather than to history I have always inclined to mathematics, physics and logic. My father was a university professor of mathematics so I have probably inherited this after him. This is maybe why I like sculptural work where you also have to solve a range of technical problems.

You have to solve these problems even when designing medals and coins. Where is the difference from the point of view of an author?
In the case of a medal you always have to conform more to the rules. It is necessary to fulfil technical conditions, for instance the height of the relief must not be exceeded. Paradoxically, what I disliked about sculptural work - already during my study - was the lack of creative limits. In medals it is convenient that I have an assignment and technical parameters, in a way it simplifies the work, it makes the decision-making easier.