Bio

Jakub Ječmínek born 1977 in Kolín

During his studies at the Kolín´s Grammar School, where he was originally preparing to study medicine, he devoted himself intensively to writing poetry and small prose and to private study of philosophy. His attention was focused on understanding the forces that shape the world from the immaterial level and the importance of the visions that had accompanied him since early childhood.

After graduation, he began his civilian military service, which he performed in the iconic environment of the Klementinum cellars. The atmosphere of the historical premises and the omnipresent spirit of the past left a deep imprint on him and helped him to seek inspiration outside the influence of society. After his service, he moved to Prague, where he began to experiment on his own with various artistic techniques, which he combined with photography. He attended courses in figurative drawing under the guidance of teachers from the Academy of Fine Arts and a painting course by the painter Věra Šteflová. During this period, Ječmínek also continued to devote himself to philosophy, but his interest gradually expanded to psychology, cultural anthropology and occult sciences. He was particularly fascinated by the expansion of human consciousness and the process of individuation as described by Carl Gustav Jung. These disciplines became an integral part of his artistic approach. The aim of his work has always been to capture the processes that shape human perception, development and destiny.

In 2000, he began his studies in art education and psychology at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. Although he initially found this study enriching and had the opportunity to live alone in the nearby ruined farmhouse of his ancestors, he gradually discovered that the academic environment was too confining and did not allow him enough freedom in his creative expression. After three years he decided to quit his studies and returned to Prague, where he continued his artistic experiments. During this period he increasingly tried to find his own style of expression that could capture his visions. After a while he settled again in his native Kolín. During these years, he devoted himself intensively to both painting and further theoretical studies, which eventually led him to the decision to start studying pedagogy at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague in 2009. He successfully completed his studies and took away valuable information about positive and negative influences on human personality development.

Jakub Ječmínek has been painting professionally since 2016. For three years he has been developing a completely unique technique, which he uses for his abstract works depicting cosmic principles. This technique consists of layering variously modified acrylic pastes on which he applies paint in his own specific way, giving his paintings an unusual depth and dynamism.

From 2020 to 2021 he worked in his studio in Bethlehem in Hlinsko, where he met his wife Kateřina, with whom they works together.

Currently Jakub Ječmínek focuses mainly on painting 3D reliefs. Thematically, he oscillates between modern notions of realism and the most abstract positions, with his main goal being to capture the extreme positions of reality and the dynamics of the hidden forces of nature. In this sense, he follows the work of František Kupka, whose legacy is one of the most important for him.

Ječmínek's approach to his work is complex, research-based and innovative. It is based on a solid foundation of knowledge of colour theory, anatomy and composition, but also on a deep understanding of the human psyche. As a result, his work becomes not only a visual experience, but also a thought-provoking challenge that appeals to viewers on multiple levels.