Jirí Cernicky
1966, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic. Lives and works in Prague


Nowadays, it is possible to meet people unable to experience this world through their own emotions. Although it is emotions that convey
personality, for most people the expression of emotion is deemed
inappropriate. The persons that outwardly shows they emotions is often undermined in society due to others seeing them as over-the-top,
ridiculous, pathetic, silly, or pitiful. If we learn to master our emotions, it follows that there will eventually be more and more people lacking in them. That is the reason why I became development designer for the Panasonic Company. I offered the company collaboration in the development of a special techno-prosthesis. It was intended that this should become a spare storage space for emotions that could then be utilised by someone who felt that their own emotions had degenerated so much that they were having problems with sufficiently experiencing life. The machine itself looks like a Walkman with headphones, the playing of which is not directed into the wearer’s ear but actually transmitted outwards from the head. The memory of the chip card of the SD Audio layer holds a vast number of audio recordings of authentic human
emotions. When the owner wishes to express therself through acoustic emotions but feels physically unable, the machine would give them the opportunity to find an appropriate emotion on the display of the SD Audio Player - whining, hysterical quarrelling, or chaotic giggling.

Selected solo exhibitions: 2002: Jiri Svestka, Prague; Lara Vinci, Paris; Tent, Rotterdam; 2001; MAMA, Rotterdam; Kraljevic, Zagreb; 2000: POST, Los Angeles; 1999: City Gallery, Prague.
Selected group exhibitions: 2003: Balkan Consulat, <rotor>, Graz, Austria; 2002: Fluxus und die folgen, Wiesbaden, Germany; 2001: Triennial of Smallscale, Fellbach; 2000: Bohemian Birds, Kunst Haus, Dresden; All You Need Is Love, The Centre of Art - Laznia, Gdansk, Poland; 1999: After the Wall, Moderna Museet, Stockholm; Fauna, Gallery of Contemporary Art Zacheta, Warsaw; Rondo, Ludwig Museum, Budapest.




Panasonic Emotions, 2002. Mixed media.

Panasonic Emotions, 2002. Mixed media.