Aleš Novák is a painter, sculptor, and architect whose work has long explored the intersection of landscape, spirituality, and personal experience. He is currently presenting his exhibition PENDLER – A Stranded Romantic from the Jizera Mountains at the C.0 HYB4 Galerie. A guided tour with the artist and curator will take place on May 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
The term "pendler" (commuter) usually refers to someone who regularly crosses borders for work. In Aleš Novák’s case, however, it takes on a broader meaning. His work constantly moves between two worlds: the tranquil landscape of the Jizera Mountains and the dynamic environment of the city.
On one side is silence, space, and direct contact with nature. On the other is the city, with its pace, communication, and everyday reality. This movement between contrasting environments becomes the central motif of the entire exhibition.
It is not just about the contrast itself, but the process of transition—the journey between these worlds. In this space, Novák’s experience transforms into imagery. His work does not function as traditional landscape painting, but rather as a record of encounters, tension, and the search for balance.
Novák’s painting is not merely a capture of reality; it is a way of re-experiencing the landscape. His canvases feature visible gestures, layers, and structures that reflect both the energy of the place and the creative process itself.
The result is not just a visual composition, but a kind of trace—a record of the relationship between the external world and internal experience. The gallery becomes a space where these layers meet again, and where the visitor can enter into a similar dialogue.
The guided tour on May 6 will offer an opportunity to experience the exhibition in a way that a solo visit cannot. Artist Aleš Novák and curator Filip Kazda will discuss how the individual works were created and what "commuting" between the landscape and the city means to them.
You will learn why some paintings feel more like a capture of movement than a specific place, and how the rhythm of daily travel between two different worlds is projected into them. These connections often remain hidden during a casual visit.
The tour is suitable both for those with a long-standing interest in contemporary art and for those who wish to experience the exhibition with greater insight and in a broader context.
Aleš Novák: PENDLER – A Stranded Romantic from the Jizera Mountains
C.0 HYB4 Galerie, Kampus Hybernská, Hybernská 4, Prague 1
Curator: Filip Kazda
Guided Tour: May 6, 2026, from 6:00 PM
Exhibition Dates: April 11 – May 23, 2026
Opening Hours: Mon–Sun 9:00–20:00 (entry via Kavárna Kampus)
Admission: free
Aleš Novák (*1980, Prague) is a painter, sculptor, and architect. His work combines an abstract approach with inspiration from Baroque and Classical traditions. He transforms landscapes into organic forms and spatial objects, drawing on his personal relationship with nature and spiritual themes. His work invites a slower pace of perception and deeper reflection on the world around us.
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HYB4 Galerie was awarded the prestigious annual VIZIUM prize for 2025, presented by the Czech Academy of Visual Arts, in the Institution category – for a long-term, year-round program of exhibitions and lectures contributing to the development of contemporary visual culture.
