Jan Švankmajer

By Ashley Pierson

I have always found beauty to be rather bland; almost tacky in its portrayal of emotion. Holding such views made me feel ostracized in my creation of art, as if my expression was suboptimal. For me, stumbling upon Jan Švankmajer was like discovering a treasure trove of validation. After watching his film Alice 1988, a vulgar interpretation of Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland, I was struck by the originality of the directing. Most of the sequences were practical effects shot through stop motion, a medium of animation I have always been fond of, however, this isn't what nabbed my attention. The characters in the film were all constructed of real objects one could find in their home, such as the caterpillar being a stuffed sock, and the Queen of Hearts coming straight from the deck. Even in the most vulgar parts of the film, I could not look away, as the complexity and detail that went into each shot would be an insult to miss. Švankmajer's originality in an art scene as oversaturated and overdone as surrealism is commendable, and revitalized my appreciation for more strange and unusual art.

This is not all there was to discover however, as I found the short Dimensions of Dialogue, a complex depiction of the phases of relationships portrayed through two clay heads, which greatly expands upon humanity's inevitable self destruction. There was also The Last Trick, a show of two masked men attempting to outperform one another, until their arrogance and hubris destroy everything. Both pieces show immense talent in how Švankmajer is able to eloquently explore concepts which almost anyone can relate to in a way that would be foreign to most. This exhibits how even though we are all humans with analogous experiences, our interpretations of life are unique. I can look at my peers and relate to them on many standings. The daunting reality of school fills us with immeasurable anxiety, and societal pressures to conform has led to an unhealthy relationship with ourselves. Despite this, we are still distinctive individuals. Jan Švankmajer’s work has helped me to understand that my mind is an environment unique to me, and simply put there is no wrong way to express what is your own personal truth.