Adriena Šimotová

Since the ’60s, Czech artist Adriena Šimotová (1926–2014) has been concerned with the human body-its physical presence, vulnerability, evanescence, and decay. She has worked primarily with paper since the early ’70s. For Šimotová uses paper as an almost sculptural medium, emphasizing its material qualities and, above all, its capacity to serve as a kind of physical allegory of human flesh. Šimotová and her husband Jiří John belonged to the art group UB 12. Although lacking a group program, the group was characterized by inquiry, discussion, and acceptance of a plurality of opinions and the uniqueness of individual expression.