Veronika Čechmánková
#2 min Veronika Čechmánková
1. 9. 2023
Flowers are not to be picked. Flowers are to be admired
The series is compiled from my photographic diary of the past six years. The aim of the project is to search for the true nature of things – in contrast to the artificial – and to explore the concept of beauty from my own perspective. The images are determined by situations with non-professional models that reflect my own experience within modelling agencies. I try to capture something real and tangibly alive: something that inherently belongs to reality, but something that’s often censored, because it’s considered too embarrassing or personal. These images are at odds with the fashion industry, which mainly presents itself through perfect beauty. An important link between the photographs is the symbolism of the flower. Do you know anyone who thinks flowers aren’t beautiful? We have a desire to own them, to decorate spaces with them, to admire them. But do flowers want to be admired by us? Or would they rather cultivate their surroundings in their own way?
Veronika Čechmánková was nominated to Futures Talents by Fotograf Zone in 2023.
Co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union, FUTURES is a platform to increase the capacity, mobility and visibility of it's selected artists and to bridge the gap between emerging and established artists.
IMAGES CAPTIONS
All images: Veronika Čechmánková, Flowers are not to be picked. Flowers are to be admired, 2022
Veronika Čechmánková
Fotograf zone
#5 min Fotograf Zone
Meet the artists nominated by Fotograf Magazine in 2023
We are happy to announce another group of artists to join Futures this year. The five artists were nominated through by Fotograf Magazine: Michaela Nagyidaiová, Hiep Duong Chi, Veronika Čechmánková, Michał Patycki and Noémi Szécsi.
#2 min Fotograf Zone
FOTOGRAF ZONE FESTIVAL 2025 – TALK TOGETHER
The fifteenth edition of the international Fotograf Zone Festival, titled TALK TOGETHER, focuses on language and interpersonal communication in its many forms. This year’s festival will be presented in a condensed ten-day format, running from 3 to 12 October 2025, and will offer audiences new perspectives on how language shapes our relationships, understanding, and conflicts.
#2 min Natalie Drtinová, Dorota Franková
Dorota Franková – Tenderness and Pain of Dorota Franková’s Portraits
In her work, Dorota Franková focuses on portraiture. While the portraits of others tend to be full of tenderness and fragility, her own are captured in exacerbated situations or via manipulated photographs that emphasise the restlessness of the mind.
#6 min Markéta Kinterová
Rencontres d’Arles 2025
The Rencontres d’Arles Festival is the world’s oldest photography festival and probably also the most visited. As its name suggests, it is an opportunity for encounters. Alongside the official program, dozens of spontaneous events, initiatives, and exhibitions emerge, both official and unofficial, transforming the town into a vibrant cultural organism. This year, I had the opportunity to experience the Rencontres d’Arles Festival through the eyes of someone who moves between their own artistic and pedagogical practice and above all as someone who believes that photography has the power not only to depict but also to shape the social context.
#5 min Fotograf Zone
2025 OPEN CALL WINNERS
#2 min Viktoriia Tymonova
Viktoriia Tymonova
#2 min Laura Amann, Robert Gabris
Robert Gabris – Acts of Provocation and Self-Protection or the Power of Prohibition and Taboos
Robert Gabris’ practice confronts viewers with a provocative exploration of domesticity, queer identity, and societal marginalisation. Keenly aware of the dangers of exoticisation and institutional exploitation, Gabris navigates the complexities of representing Roma life while paying homage to his culture, family, and their lived experiences. This strategic artistic endeavour confronts the harsh realities of systemic discrimination and neglect faced by Roma citizens, while also interrogating notions of inclusivity and identity politics as well as ways of giving back to Roma people instead of providing mere representation.
#1 min Veronika Čechmánková
Veronika Čechmánková
Beloved Baking