Today’s world is a world of pictures. The word seems to lose its importance and the picture becomes the main source of information. People stop reading and focus particularly on visual messages. This is faster and easier, but I am not sure whether it is best for the development of human intellect. This change was triggered by the invention of photography, dating back to 1939. However, it was caused particularly by the massive advent of digital technologies in 1990s. Today, you do not need any special photography knowledge to use a standard digital camera and with mobile phones the world is flood by millions of pictures every second. Photographers have difficult times succeeding in the digital world.
Foto luventars project maps the young generation of photographers. The Photography students have had the opportunity to present their work to public in České Budějovice since 2012. This year a permanent hall of photography in Nahoře Gallery (opened in 1978) organises a fourth photography competition for students of secondary schools of supplied arts. The students of the Applied Photography and Media can present their best works on this exhibition every two years. This projects gives the teachers an opportunity to compare the level of photography on individual art schools.
The Museum of Photography and Modern Visual Media in Jindřichův Hradec cooperates with Nahoře Gallery on the implementation of the project which will be presented in the Museum in spring next year. Students could participate with a maximum of six photos and the topic was optional. Ninety eight students from eight Czech and one Slovak art schools participated in the competition, which has been the highest number of participants so far. The panel of experts consisting of the Chair doc., MgA. Miro Švolík, Head of Creative Photography at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava in 2009–2017, Head of Photographic Studio at Art & Design Institute in Prague since 2018, Mgr. Viktor Kopasz, Head of the Applied Photography and Media at the Graphic College and Secondary School of Graphics and Design in Prague 1 and Bohuslava Maříková, curator of Nahoře Gallery in České Budějovice had a difficult task to do. The jury chose one hundred and thirty three photographs by twenty six finalists from eight Czech and Slovak art schools to be displayed at the exhibition.
“Foto Iuventars bienále 2018” is a project which gives students and teachers a space to meet, inspire each other and present educational results. The main aim of the competition organized by Nahoře Gallery every two years is the support of the upcoming young generation of photographers.