TEACHING STAFF OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS AT THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KOŠICE

Mária Bujňáková, Michaela Bujňáková, Pavol Capik, Samuel Čarnoký, Andrej Haščák, Eva Jenčuráková, Rastislav Jurčík, Patrik Knoblich, Peter Kopkáš, Marian Oslislo, Štefánia Suchodolinská, Dušan Šuch, Tibor Uhrín, Martin Vysoký, Eduard Weiss, Peter Wohlfahrt

The premier exhibition of the works of a group of established designers who are linked through their teaching activities at the Department of Design at the Faculty of Arts of the Technical University of Košice. The works by sixteen designers showcase a wide spectrum of design approaches, ranging from artistic designs to industrially produced works of spatial and graphic design. Presented as part of the Theme cycle of exhibitions.

Design is a discipline that knows no fixed borders. It oscillates between the domains of art, technology and social challenges, and is thus an ongoing reflection of the changing demands of our times. This exhibition of design work by the teaching staff offers a cross-section of contemporary approaches and concepts which have shaped the educational and creative processes. The faculty staff are themselves active and established designers, and the exhibition grants them the opportunity to present the results of their research and professional work across four main fields – Industrial, Innovation, Space and Visual Communication.

The exhibition features examples by designers whose work encompasses the full process of industrial designs, from initial concept to full production; for example, a gantry crane cabin and designs for a machine press and chairs by Peter Wohlfahrt or designs for a low-lift truck and pellet furnace by Eduard Weiss, techniques in design presentation (Eduard Weiss) or visionary conceptual plans with futuristic elements (Peter Kopkáš – MEH, Skyflower). Designs by Rastislav Jurčík incorporate new technologies which are gradually being introduced into the automotive industry; Dušan Šuch focuses on solutions to everyday demands in the household, the office and public spaces, but he also works in the fields of virtual design, digital modelling and virtual reality.

Also represented are works by designers who are primarily active in product design. Tibor Uhrín specialises in furniture, home accessories, wooden toys and experimental wooden bowls; Pavol Capik and Patrik Knoblich combine design, craftwork and new technologies with an emphasis on the sustainability, precision workmanship and elegance of the finished product. Narrative design and symbolism are characteristic of the design work of Mária Bujňáková; Štefánia Suchodolinská produces original and attractive series of furniture sets, a field which is also the focus of Michaela Bujňáková, a designer whose spatial designs are inspired by house plants and traditional embroidery.

In addition to industrial, spatial and product design, the exhibition also presents works which fall into the category of visual communication, including poster design, typography, calligraphy and multimedia performances, book design and photography. Poster design is archetypal for the work of Andrej Haščák, but it also plays a part in the work of Marian Oslislo, who is also active in multimedia design. Samuel Čarnoký has devoted much of his creative work to typographical designs but also book design; several publications on which he collaborated are also presented in the exhibition. The topic of inclusive design is crucial to the work of Eva Jenčuráková, who is also involved in poster design. The group of exhibited designers concludes with the work of Martin Vysoký and its focus on promotional, reportage and product photography.

Andrej Haščák & Eva Jenčuráková, exhibition curators