Tereza Buskova
(born 1978, Czech Republic)

Tereza Buskova’s work is fantastical, provocative and occasionally sinister. Her films explore a personal mythology with symbolic references to liberation, sexuality and East European Folklore. To make her work Buskova often starts by devising complex scenarios for her performances and creating costumes and sets, before filming as well as collaborating with other artists on the music.

Buskova researches East European traditions to make her work, delving into a rich culture of folklore, theatre, film, animation, literature and craft. Formally her works recall diverse elements from the likes of Mikhael Vrubel, Gustav Klimt and on occasion the director Sergei Parajanov. She creates decadent theatrical performances, mixing live action references from carnival, Viennese Actionism and happenings and baroque opera.

The artist explains her work as, “beginning with improvised tableaux vivant and ritualistic narrative-free performance. Costumes, props, models and makeup are my tools.” She adds, “I put raw human sexuality in the spotlight. It is an unavoidable keystone of our existence bound up in our folklore and traditions. Given my Czech origins this work is actively steeped in Bohemian symbols and myths.” Buskova’s work unravels chains of metaphors and metonymies. Yet her work still remains open to multiple readings: “Like fairy-tales, my work holds beauty alongside the dark and sinister. Beyond the simple celebration of the patterns of our ancestors, I want to unashamedly unveil their taboos.”

Tereza Buskova lives and works in London. She graduated in 2007 in Fine Art (printmaking) from the Royal College of Art and contributed a live performance as part of the recent show at the Barbican, Seduced

http://www.galleryoneoneone.com/exhibitions/detail/_13,1442/?skip=1

http://www.frieze.com/shows/review/jason_dodge_tereza_buskova/

http://www.terezabuskova.co.uk/press.html