Jan Solpera / From A
The exhibition of Jan Solpera’s typographic work is part of a series devoted to the multifaceted field for which the term graphic design has become established also in our country. Following the success of previous exhibitions in this field, the Gallery of West Bohemia in Pilsen has decided to deliberately and systematically fill the void left in the Czech Republic by the cancellation of the legendary international Brno Biennale exhibition. Pilsen is an appropriate location for this, not least because it is home to the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art at the University of West Bohemia.
Graphic designers Zuzana Burgrová and Robert V. Novák once again undertook the curatorship, having previously tried their hand at this role in the comprehensive exhibition Rostislav Vaněk Extended, which received positive feedback from professional colleagues and beyond. They emphasise that they are not professional curators, but they see this as an advantage. Their unconventional perspective and lack of constraints enable them to appreciate the nuances of works that are close to their hearts. They approach the work in question in their own unique way, but with the utmost respect.
The same approach will be taken when presenting Professor Jan Solpera’s work. The exhibition will highlight details and approaches in his work that he himself tends to marginalise, but which appear essential to defining his style. Solpera specialises in a specific calligraphic approach to title text compositions, even in designs that the layperson would not necessarily recognise as calligraphy. All of his works reveal an in-depth knowledge of the history of typography, which he builds on or responds to in his own unique way. Because visual history repeats itself in a spiral, works that some may view as part of the history of typography may inspire others to see them as the source of the development of future visuality.
The exhibition will also feature excerpts from Jan Solpera’s extensive text, Typo života běh (;! :? & ~!!! ?!!! :[…]) = Solpera (From the Course of a Typo Life (;! :? & ~!!! ?!!! :[…]) = Solpera), in which the author shares his personal memories and experiences in the field and from his many years of teaching. His 1977 expert writing, Klasifikace typografických písem latinkových (Classification of Latin Typographic Fonts), which is familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in typography, will certainly not be overlooked. All elements of Jan Solpera’s work will be brought together to create a journey that is not chronological, but based on morphology and semantic relationships. The exhibition will also include film animations illustrating his calligraphic approach to clarify this principle for visitors. In the context of material exhibits such as posters, books and other printed outputs, the word service that is very prominent in Solpera’s work will be mentioned many times.
The title of Jan Solpera’s exhibition, Od A (From A), reflects his profound connection to the history of typography, his unwavering commitment to honesty in graphic design, and his significant contributions to the field through his years of teaching. The letter A is the first letter in many alphabets; it marks the ace in a pack of cards; and, surprisingly, it is also connected to the Sun.
