Quick Facts
Biography
Petr Šálek, MFA, QEP (born 1948 in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech photographer.
Petr Šálek is renowned in the world of commercial and fashion photography. Moreover, he is acknowledged for his work as an experimental photographer. He does panoramic photography and high pigment quality printing. Wide-angle photography, composition, lighting and geometric landscape are Šálek's signature features. Furthermore, he has also published his works in several photo books and magazines as well as exhibited among several prominent venues.
Education
Film and Television Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts, Prague – Department of Art Photography
Awards
- 2002 title of QEP, Qualified European Photographer, Category: Advertising Photography, Orvieto, 16 March 2002
Select Solo Exhibitions
- 1996 Young Fashion - Künstlerfest, Erlangen, FRG
- 1996 Water Folly – Blumen & Art, Nuremberg, FRG
- 1996 Avantgarde – Ward-Nasse Gallery, New York, USA
- 1996 Flowers – Blumen & Art, Nuremberg, FRG
- 1997 Technikum – Schwan Stabilo, Heroldsberg, FRG
- 1997 Digital Photographs – Motor-Presse-Verlag, Stuttgart, FRG
- 1997 Photographs – Funkhaus, Nuremberg, FRG
- 1998 Photographs – Cebit, Hanover, FRG
- 1998 Views – picture gallery OBI, Nuremberg, FRG
- 1998 World of Photography – representation of Epson company, Vienna, Austria
- 1999 Enwrap (photographs in collaboration with the German choreographer Felix Ruckert) – club Solidní nejistota, Prague
- 2000 Prague – European City of Culture – exhibition accompanying the performances of the company Dance Perfekt in partner
- 2000 European cities of culture - Brussels, Bologna, Reykjavik, Avignon, Helsinki
- 2000 Jak se kalí grafie (How Calli Graphs, collaboration with Petr Geisler) - National Gallery in Prague, Zbraslav Chateau
- 2001 Animal Dancing – Studio Fénix, Prague
- 2002 Photo Calligraphy (combination of photographs with calligraphy by Petr Geisler) club Solidní nejistota, Prague
- 2002 Blind Alley – Studio Fénix, Prague
- 2002 Qualified European Photographer – National Museum of Photography, Jindřichův Hradec
- 2003 Crooks 1 – International Exhibition Interkamera, Prague Exhibition Grounds
- 2004 Photo Calligraphy 2 – Mironet Company, Prague
- 2004 Crooks 2 – club Solidní nejistota, Prague
- 2004 Photo Calligraphy 3 – Digiforum, Prague
- 2004 Crooks 3 – Allegro Gallery, Prague
- 2005 Mud on Canvas – International Exhibition Interkamera, Prague Exhibition Grounds
- 2006 Prague XXL – Old Town City Hall of Prague
- 2008 Prague Panoramic – Buenos Aires
- 2008 Praguefoto - Prague
- 2009 Airport Praha-Ruzyně, City of Prague, Presentation on Occasion of the EU-Chairmanship of Czech Republic (Co-Author Graphic Designer Pavel Dufek)
- 2009 Foto Calligraphy - Cafe Kino Lucerna, Prague
- 2009 Water Games - Famood, Prague
- 2010 1984 - (Variations on George Orwell´s book), Hotel Clarion, Prague
- 2011 1984-2 - Cafe Technika, Prague
- 2011 Prague Panoramic - Hotel Leonardo, Prague
- 2011 1984-3 - DOX, Prague
- 2012 Prague Panoramic - New Town Hall, Prague
- 2012 Railway Bridge - Cafe Kofein, Prague,in cooperation with Pavel Dufek
- 2012 Railway Bridge 2 - Winehouse Voršilka, Prague, in cooperation with Pavel Dufek
- 2014 Photo Calligraphy (combination of photographs with calligraphy by Petr Geisler) - Prostor, Prague
- 2015 Where is my home, where is my home? - Prostor, Prague, in cooperation with Pavel Dufek
- 2015 1984,The National Library, Pristina,Kosovo
- 2016 Prague panoramic,The National Library, Pristina,Kosovo
Included in Collections
- National Museum of Photography, Jindřichův Hradec
- Gold Collection of gifts from contemporary Czech photographers
- National Library of the Czech Republic
- Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
Books
- Československá fotografie v exilu (1939-1989), Praha, 1992, Anna Fárová, Catalogue
- Die neue Akt Fotoschule, 2000, VERLAG PHOTOGRAPHIE, ISBN 3-933131-00-6,
- Reklama 1990-1999, 2000, Asociace fotografů, ISBN 80-902629-2-9
- Asociace fotografů České republiky se představuje: Petr Šálek, FotoVideo 2001, č. 11
- Česká fotografie 20. století, Praha, 2005, Vladimír Birgus, Jan Mlčoch, UPM, KANT, ISBN 80-86217-89-2
- 1984, Prague : Petr Šálek, 2011, Graphic Design by Pavel Dufek, ISBN 978-80-254-9180-5
- Praha XXL = Prague XXL ; Tělo = Body, Catalogue of the Exhibition at the Old Town Hall, Prague: Petr Šálek, 2005, ISBN 80-239-6487-9
- Jeden den České republiky, (One day in the life of Czech Republic) Editor: Pavel Radosta, 2007, ISBN 978-80-254-0496-6, str. 156, 157
- PRAGUE, Petr Šálek, 2016, Graphic Design by Pavel Dufek, ISBN 978-80-260-9910-9
1984 Cycle
The title of this series of photographs was inspired by George Orwell's book 1984. Salek has given every day activities an Orwellian, sci - fi twist ; the images are intended to portray a somewhat sardonic-laced-with-irony view of what life under a Big Brother state might be like. Perhaps we should not only learn from mistakes of the past, but we should also think about what our life might look like in the future if those lessons aren’t learned. (It may interest the viewer to note that Salek fled Czechoslovakia under communism in 1981. He returned to the Czech Republic after the Velvet Revolution). Most of the materials used in the photographs are of a 1984 or earlier vintage.
Taking a breather and having some tea..., image from the cycle 1984
Where did that box of underwear go? I need my Wonderbra to uplift my spirits..., image from the cycle 1984
Just married, image from the cycle 1984
Excellent! My first color holiday greeting picture!, image from the cycle 1984
Mixed goods, image from the cycle 1984
