Crafted in Japan
Václav Rezác is a member of a strong generation of Czech glass artists who studied at renowned Czech art schools in the 1990´s. He studied hot glass at the glassmaking school in Zelezný Brod from 1991 to 1995 and from 1995 to 2001 he was a student in the glass studio of professor Vladimír Kopecký at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM).
During his studies Rezác was always fascinated by hot glass making with one intention - to do it in his own and different way. After graduating he developed his individual art work while being involved in various projects and occupations including Lhotsky Cast Glass Art Manufacture – a Czech company that carried out the manufacture of the cast glass sarcophagus for the Danish royal family. He is currently a lecturer at the Technical University in Liberec, Czech Republic.
In 2016 he was appointed to the position of a teacher at the prestigious Toyama Institute of Glass Art (TIGA) in Japan. The school in Toyama was established in 1991 and from the beginning it has been inviting outstanding glass artists in order to teach Japanese and international students. Employing Czech teachers has always been a part of the Institute´s strategy. Three years spent in Japan became a kind of milestone in Václav Rezác´s glass creating experience. The fact is that living, working, and especially teaching in Japan must inevitably change one´s approach to many things not only in a professional and artistic way. On the other hand foreign teachers may influence and make a significant impact on the Japanese glass art environment. This is exactly what Rezác did. Conditions for mutually beneficial influences are just perfect in Toyama. The school is equipped to provide students and teachers with all techniques and technologies in one place. The school is run and supported by the city of Toyama while students pay a reasonable fee for the training. At the same time the institute offers its free facilities to freelance glass artists and craftsmen who can rent them.
Václav Rezác, "Pink", 2019,
83 cm Dia, 50 kg
Václav Rezác particularly appreciates the Japanese principle of a complex approach to glass tuition that utterly suits him. Every artist is supposed to be a real master able to realize the work from the initial idea to the final shape through all the necessary steps, including his or her craftsman‘s personal performance. And the teacher is naturally supposed to be the master ready to execute his own work himself and offer his disciples the best example. Václav Rezác is exactly this sort of artist and mentor. Within three years of his teaching in Japan he created a fascinating collection of work inspired by Japanese nature and traditional culture. Rezác´s works designed and completely hand-crafted during his stay in Japan are a faultless display of a deep understanding of both European and Japanese traditions.
Václav Rezác, "Columns", 2019,
27 x 26 x 35 cm, 8 kg
Author: Jaroslav Polanecky
The article is published in the context of our cooperation with GLASHAUS - International Magazine for Studio Glass 2/2020
Cover picture: Václav Rezác, "Black Calm", 2019, 35 x 15,5 x 7 cm, 5 kg
Photo credit: Václav Rezác
