Ora et Labora: Josef Mištera in the Present Tense

Josef Mištera, founder of the Sutnar Faculty and a key figure of Pilsen’s cultural scene, presents recent works at the Pilsen Municipal Gallery. We spoke with the gallery director and curator Anna Štěpán Arnetová.

Josef Mištera has left a lasting mark on the University of West Bohemia and the city of Plzeň as the founder of the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art. His significance within the local cultural scene is also recognized by the leadership of the Pilsen Municipal Gallery. A selection of his works, titled Ora et Labora, is on display there until Sunday, May 3. In an interview with INFO.zcu, curator and gallery director Anna Štěpán Arnetová spoke about the exhibition and ongoing collaborations with the Sutnar Faculty.

Why did the Pilsen Municipal Gallery decide to present an exhibition of Josef Mištera’s work? How does this exhibition differ from past and future ones?

Josef Mištera is a prominent figure in Pilsen’s cultural scene, so the connection with the Pilsen Municipal Gallery (PMG) feels entirely natural. PMG is one of the few galleries focused exclusively on contemporary art, and all the works presented here were created within the past two years. At the Ladislav Sutnar Gallery and, as far as I know, also at the Gallery U Bílého jednorožce, older works will be shown, including Mištera’s illustrations for Stendhal. The exhibition Ora et Labora, currently on view at the Pilsen Municipal Gallery, focuses exclusively on his most recent work.

What criteria guided your selection of works for this exhibition?

The key idea was to present Josef Mištera’s current work - pieces that had previously been seen only by a very limited audience, making the exhibition something of a premiere for visitors. Many people had no idea how prolific he has been or how much he has created over the past two years. The gallery presents 178 drawings and illustrations, along with 24 large-scale paintings. The large-format works are placed at the back of the gallery, forming the exhibition's culmination. At the entrance, by contrast, the show begins with a delicate, almost tender drawing of Don Quixote, in which I also perceive a certain sense of satire. It feels quite magical and unusual that the exhibition opens with Don Quixote, continues through Dulcinea and Sancho Panza, and gradually leads to the artist’s self-portraits. The series of drawings is complemented by the artist’s own texts, and, as mentioned, the exhibition concludes with the large-scale paintings.

The exhibition is titled Ora et Labora, after the Benedictine motto “pray and work.” Does this dual principle reflect Josef Mištera’s personality?

I think that is more a question for Josef Mištera himself. Until we began working together on this exhibition, we didn’t know each other personally. Of course, I was aware of him, as I belong to the first generation of graduates of the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art. It was a very enriching, pleasant, and inspiring collaboration, during which I had the opportunity to get to know him - perhaps not in great depth, but enough to see that he is extremely hardworking. At the same time, a spiritual dimension is clearly visible in his work.

An accompanying publication titled Ora et Labora has also been released. It is authored by Josef Mištera, with graphic design by renowned designer and professor Rostislav Vaněk. What is the book about, and where can it be purchased?

The book is available directly at the Pilsen Municipal Gallery, where visitors can purchase it for a very reasonable price of 450 CZK - though that is not the most important thing. It is truly a beautiful publication. It offers a comprehensive overview of Josef Mištera’s work, allowing readers to trace, for example, the gradual development of his illustrations. Mištera also reflects on his life, describing how he came to art and warmly recalling his mother, Emilka. Each chapter opens with a color-coded text - gentle, personal introductions. One chapter, for instance, begins: “In a box labeled ‘the largest sculpture’ lies one of my earliest memories. Within myself and my work, I find the imprint of my parents’ and grandparents’ experiences. My great-grandfather, Josef Marek, also contributed to the palette of my talents and traits. I likely inherited my artistic abilities from my mother, Emilka.”

What further collaborations with Sutnarka are you planning this year?

Ora et Labora is not the only exhibition this year developed in collaboration with the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art. Immediately after it closes, we will open another show on May 20 titled Rovnováha (Balance), a semester project by FDU students. This group exhibition is curated by Daniela Kramerová. The collaboration does not end there. The final joint project of the year will be an exhibition by sculptor Luděk Míšek and painter Vladimír Véla, both of whom teach at the faculty. It will open on November 24 and is curated by Iva Mladičová.