Sylva Petrová

The monograph Casovanie Ciary /Timing the Line examines the question of drawing in the work of the leading Slovak artists –glassmaker, painter, teacher and writer Palo Macho (1965)
 
Palo Macho is one of the most distinctive figures of Slovak contemporary art. He has gained an international reputation for his experimental work in glass and excellent painting.
 
The book focuses on Macho’s experiments in drawing as integrated into glass in the context of the last twenty years. Drawing as the most important component of the glass art works has been virtually unknown to international art glass world, if we do not identify drawing with etching that applies to different principles. The line drawing featured in the glass objects of artists has the appearance of a side effect of decoration or the result of hot-worked glass threads. Macho’s method of drawing is different. His comprehensive research into the possibilities of integrating drawing with glass, means drawing in connection with space, light and time. This makes his drawing different from other famous glass artists – draughtsmen, such as Stanislav Libenský, Stepán Pala or Dale Chihuly who are concerned with two-dimensional drawing on paper as a separate discipline.

Macho’s ambition is, simply put, drawing “on glass, in glass and with glass”. This is done in a unique way, and also by using new methods of technology. The book presents an analysis of Macho’s line drawings on the surface of glass sheets, drawings fused between glass sheets, drawings that float inside by means of prisms created by a sandwiched glass, printing from glass sheets (monotypes – vitrographics), and three-dimensional drawing created by glass relief (drawing with glass). Macho’s experiments in drawing and glass are a major contribution to the development of modern European drawing and international art glass, bringing unique discoveries and creating art treasures.
 
The monograph Casovanie Ciary /Timing the Line is a result of teamwork by the leading figures from the Slovak and Czech art scene. Apart from the concept conceived by Palo Macho, the author of this book is internationally recognised Sylva Petrová, emeritus professor at the University of Sunderland in Great Britain. Photographs Jana Hojstricová,
 an art photographer who is Vice-Chancellor of the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava. Graphic design was produced by the photographer, illustrator and graphic artist Julo Nagy.

See the Agenda exposition Palo Macho, Casovaná ciara / Timing the Line> 
and

See the Agenda> Exposition 2/6/2017-3/9/2017 Palo Macho: How are you, Wind?, Danubia Meulensteen Art Museum, Bratislava