My name is Jiří David / Shots from the middle aged artist’s life

“I don’t know who I am; I don’t know what I signify; I don’t know why and for whom I am working; I don’t know the meaning or the reason for the origin of my works, often recycled. It is suspiciously less and less important for me who will understand the meaning of my work or how, including me myself; I’m my own stranger.” (Jiří David)

In his film, director Martin Dostal captured the visual artist Jiří David Jiří David in different situations and with different people. He did so in order to reveal something of the hidden stimuli, motivations, emotions and causes of what has shaped and is still shaping the life story and artistic career of the author, who oscillates between different means of expression. In the film we will go to last year’s Venice Biennale, where Jiří David was presented in the Czech-Slovak pavilion, as well as to his exhibitions in Moscow and the Biennale in Munich’s Haus der Kunst, where he was represented by a large installation. We will also see his family background and places linked to his life. This film in its fragmentary structure paraphrases Jiří David’s artistic way of thinking. It is equally certain slice of reality as a stylized film that transcends the boundaries of the documentary format.
Written and directed by Martin Dostál
Czech Television, 2016
52 min