Emila Medková,
néeEmila Tláskalová (19 November 1928 – 19 September 1985) was a
Czech photographer, one of the important exponents of the Czech
art photography in the second half of the 20th century.[1] Her work was influenced by
Surrealism.[2] She was the wife of painter
Mikuláš Medek.
Her work has been directly linked to Surrealism. In the early period, she joined a circle of young artists centered around
Karel Teige.[4] From 1947 to 1951, she and Mikuláš Medek created collections of staged photographs. She married him on 12 September 1951. From the early 1950s, she focused on creating several loosely overlapping thematic cycles that went through her whole career, up to her death. At the turn of the 1950s and 1960s, she became a leading exponent of the Czech
Informel photography.[5] Although she found inspiration mainly in Prague, she created extensive photographic cycles of Paris (1966) and Italy (1967).[6] The life and work of Medková were covered in a monograph designed by art historians Karel Srp and Lenka Bydžovská, curators of her first comprehensive exhibition, held in 2001.
Medková gave only one interview in her life. It was initiated by the renowned art historian
Anna Fárová and published in 1976 in the magazine Československá fotografie (Czechoslovak Photography).
After the death of her husband (Medek died in 1974), she suffered a
stroke and was partially paralyzed. She died in
Prague.
"Czechoslovak Photography From 1915 to the 1960s"
From 10 June to 31 August 1992 the Jacques Baruch Gallery in Chicago showed an exhibit called "Czechoslovak Photography From 1915 to the 1960s.” It showed 90 images by 16 photographers with a range of renown and obscurity. Emila Medkova is significant in that she was the only female entry in this male-dominated show.[7]
Solo exhibitions
1960 Výstavka fotografií Emilie Medkové z let 59 a 60, Krajský vlastivědný ústav v budově muzea,
Hradec Králové