Biography
Alena Dostalova, born 1982 in Czech Republic, is a UK-based artist and design consultant. Her practice is predominately focused on drawings and paintings, though previous projects have included photography and mixed media. Her current works incorporate pencil, watercolour, acrylics and ink on paper.
"My paintings document personal history in depicting scenes from travels at home and abroad. Working in series allows me to search for the essence of a place, which is one of the objectives of each series. I believe you need multiple views to understand a place, this is why it is important to see each series in its entirety as one.
All of my paintings are based on photos, which capture a memory of the place. What does this transfer of photographic image to painting mean? The visual transfer makes the scene not only come 'alive', but it is also an interpretation; by reconstructing the scenes I am reconstructing memories.
The photos were taken with different cameras and sometimes you can see digital marks or blurred areas, which are reflected in my work. Every image can be analysed in terms of abstract modules, if you look closely my paintings comprise abstract segments despite the overall photorealistic appearance.
One of my objectives is to make art with intrinsic value, which demonstrates the painting skills I have developed. In ‘Views from Italy’ my technique starts with a preparatory drawing in pencil, traced by pen and ink prior to colouring. In more recent series I moved gradually away from pen and ink as an intermediary stage, going straight from pencil drawing to colouring. This simplification leads to an almost photographic interpretation of each image.
The final result is a series of images that represent a collection of places. They are postcards, in a way, that I am sending to the viewers. Each image highlights an aspect of a place in the album of my mind."
All of my paintings are based on photos, which capture a memory of the place. What does this transfer of photographic image to painting mean? The visual transfer makes the scene not only come 'alive', but it is also an interpretation; by reconstructing the scenes I am reconstructing memories.
The photos were taken with different cameras and sometimes you can see digital marks or blurred areas, which are reflected in my work. Every image can be analysed in terms of abstract modules, if you look closely my paintings comprise abstract segments despite the overall photorealistic appearance.
One of my objectives is to make art with intrinsic value, which demonstrates the painting skills I have developed. In ‘Views from Italy’ my technique starts with a preparatory drawing in pencil, traced by pen and ink prior to colouring. In more recent series I moved gradually away from pen and ink as an intermediary stage, going straight from pencil drawing to colouring. This simplification leads to an almost photographic interpretation of each image.
The final result is a series of images that represent a collection of places. They are postcards, in a way, that I am sending to the viewers. Each image highlights an aspect of a place in the album of my mind."
Timeline
| 2021 | Illustrated 'The 4 Figure Trick' Book by David Meckin |
| 2019+ | Showcasing 'Skye Landscapes' online The Darryl Nantais Gallery - https://linton59.co.uk/artists/Alena_Dostalova |
| 2014 | Postcards, photographs taken from each of the windows in her family’s new home Pop-up exhibition, Česká Třebová, Czech Republic. |
| 2012 | Draw Me a Bicycle, drawings of a bicycle collected from various people at a social event House party, London |
| 2011 | Searching for the Heart of Southend on Sea Artside |
| 2011 | Fragmented Desire (solo exhibition of textile artefacts) Bar Prague, London |
| 2011 | Encoded Systems (group exhibition curated by Alena Dostalova) Red Gate Gallery, London |
| 2010 | Lost in Translation? group exhibition curated by Michaela Freeman The Riverside Studios |
| 2008 | The Pink Ballerina, Human statue performance performed by Petra Duspivová Záveská (performance, video and photography) Covent Garden, London |
| 2007 | Represented by and sold works from 2001-2007 Sloane Graphics, London, NW3 |
Education
| 2010-2012 | MA History of Art Birkbeck University of London |
| 2002-2003 | Diploma in Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Christie’s Education, London |
| 2001-2005 | BA(Bc) History of Art and English Language Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Czech Republic |