Petr Nikl

Puzzles

Záhádky Záhádky
Záhádky
Meander, 2007
Awards:
 2008 Golden Ribbon Award – Art section: Beautiful book for children and youth
 2008 Magnesia Litera – For children and youth
 2008 Magnesia Litera – Book of the Year
 2007 The Most Beautiful Czech Book – Literature for children and youth: 1st place

This fourth original book from the outstanding representative of the Czech art scene reminds us both of the artist’s inspiration by Morgenstern, as well as of the certain gloominess that blends, in the person of the author, with the playfulness of the “child within a man”. The collection of petty details enlivening the broader regions of linguistic and artistic experiment once again refuses to give up its dreaminess, which strives to get to the bottom of things, but only so that they are not hurt by it. Relying on the pseudo logic of speech and verbal automatisms it requests the reader’s co-operation on the definite shape or order, e.g. in the interactive intermezzo focusing on dreams. However, as the meditating artist reminds us, his erratic puzzles and amazing “fury tales” often adopt the form of reptiles, Möbius strips or the familiar infantile shapes represented by a twisted piece of poo.

Záhádky
Meander, 2007
Awards:
 2008 Golden Ribbon Award – Art section: Beautiful book for children and youth
 2008 Magnesia Litera – For children and youth
 2008 Magnesia Litera – Book of the Year
 2007 The Most Beautiful Czech Book – Literature for children and youth: 1st place