JiríValoch
Biography
Jiří Valoch (1946, Brno, Czech Republic) is a visual artist, poet, curator, and theorist, recognized for his contributions to concrete and visual poetry, conceptual art, and curatorial practice. His work investigates the relationship between language and visual expression, often challenging the boundaries between text-based art and traditional forms of artistic creation. Valoch studied Czech and German literature as well as aesthetics at J. E. Purkyně University in Brno. During the mid-1960s, he began experimenting with visual poetry, exploring how words could function both as linguistic and pictorial elements. His early work reflected an interest in minimalist and conceptual approaches, laying the foundation for his later engagement with language-based art and experimental typography. In 1968, he curated an exhibition on computer graphics at the House of Arts in Brno, marking an early attempt to integrate technology with artistic expression. From 1972 onward, he played a key role as a curator at the House of Arts, where he facilitated exhibitions that introduced both Czech and international avant-garde artists to a broader audience. Through his curatorial efforts, he helped establish Brno as a significant center for conceptual and experimental art in Central Europe. Beyond his artistic and curatorial work, Valoch has actively engaged in art theory and criticism, contributing to discussions on language, semiotics, and conceptual practices in art. His involvement in international artist networksallowed him to connect with key figures in concrete poetry, mail art, and conceptualism, further enriching the global discourse on contemporary art. His several artworks like Poetica Archeologia, (1971-1975),The Word "Art" with the Meaning of "Silence", (1976), This Sentence has no Meaning, it is an Artwork only., (1974) and others are part of the Archivio Conz collection. His legacy is defined by his interdisciplinary approach, which merges literature, visual arts, and curatorial strategies to challenge conventional understandings of artistic practice.
