Bob Rakušan

Besides landscapes and abstract and figurative composition, there is a recurring ocean theme in his works, inspired by his longtime occupation as a captain of sailing ships.

• Name — Bob Rakušan • Born — 6 February 1948 • Birthplace — Prague, Czech Republic • Field — Painting, drawing

From 1966-68 Rakušan spent two years studying figurative drawing and painting in the studio of Professor Frantisek Nedved. He also studied expressive painting, with materials including charcoal, ink and pastel. At the same time he was also studying at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, where his professors included Josef Novak, František Muzika, and later Milan Hegar. In 1969, Rakušan left the Czech Republic on a short assignment to a ceramics factory in West Germany to produce designs for Keramik Fabrik Schardt in Rheinbach, resulting in a thematic series of ceramic design templates. During this period he also began composing large and small scale mosaic pieces for private collectors. At the end of this assignment Rakušan had an individual exhibition in Bonn at the Opel Autosalon Bachem, his first independent show. The success of the show resulted in a two-month delay to his return to university, which had adverse consequences for his studies. In 1973, after finishing his studies, Rakušan focused on commercial illustration and graphic arts for a number of magazines, book publishers and companies, creating posters, logos, advertising and book designs, and illustrations for children, while also exhibiting work in Jaroslav Fragner's gallery. At the end of the seventies, after the birth of his first son David, Rakušan returned to formal and independent art. A major turning point in his career was a group exhibition titled Mult in Copenhagen in 1981, in which his work was juxtaposed and contrasted with pop art and avant-garde. The contrast had a strong impact on Rakušan that significantly altered the theme and composition of his future work. The birth of his second son Luke in 1983 forced Rakušan to focus on commercial endeavours, such as magazine graphics and illustration work. Beginning in 1988, the artist returned to his work full-time. In the interim period Rakušan had gained experience with serigraphic and other kinds of printing, which informed his technique. He also started producing his early enamel work, exhibiting a collection of these at the Salon of Prague Artists in the Park of Culture and Leisure (Park kultury an oddechu).

• Illustration — Warm relationship of two, not excluding a third one enamel on metal sheet, 80x80cm (1988) • Illustration — Field (a tribute to Van Gogh) enamel on metal sheet, 46x83cm (2012) • Illustration — Masked torso enamel on metal sheet, 73x48cm (2012) • Illustration — Linen enamel on metal sheet, 80x80cm (1988) • Illustration — Spraying enamel Enamelling plant (2012) • Illustration — The patterning Enamelling plant (2012)