RUDOLF BURDA

UNIQUE CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT ART SCULPTURES AND OBJECTS

BIOGRAPHY OF RUDOLF BURDA

* 1973

Rudolf Burda studied at the School of Applied Arts in Turnov (Czech Republic), majoring in artistic blacksmithing. From 1992 to 1993, Rudolf absolved an internship in California, USA. After his return, the Rudolf Burda Studio was established in the Czech Republic.

Nowadays, Rudolf primarily works with glass and designs stainless steel sculptures. His works are represented in various art collections in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Holland, Great Britain, the United States of America, and the Middle East. From 2012, Rudolf participated in various exhibitions and art fairs in the Netherlands, UAE, Kingdom of Bahrain, Singapore, China, and USA.

In 2016, Rolls-Royce bought a whole collection of RR & RB, and the chairman of Leica Company contacted Rudolf and ordered a 5-meters-high commission for brand new Leica’s World in Wetzlar, Germany.

At the end of 2018, Rudolf Burda will participate in the most prestigious art fairs for artists: The Jiangsu Art Fair and the Scope Miami Art Basel Miami, Art Bab 2018 - Kingdom Of Bahrain, which would be followed by a personal large exhibition as the first Czech artist in the capital of Oman, Muscat.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

“The greatest inspiration for me is the universe that is fulfilling my life’s credo of being the energy of the big bang, which has neither beginning nor ending. In my work, I’m following a minimalistic legacy and I am searching for the ideal and pure form. My aim is to contribute to the preservation of a 1000 year old tradition of hand-blown glass together with developing and perfecting it.”

RUDOLF BURDA IN THE CONCEPTS OF QUANTUM PHYSICS

Describing the objects of Rudolf Burda is almost counterproductive. They attract all conceivable attention and are characterized by the famous statement that the artist describes in another form what we cannot express in words.

The interpretation of the work of some artists – and Rudolf Burda is one of them – defies the traditional art-historical vocabulary. If we want to use it according to established rules, we create an insufficient description or a poetic eulogy.

I found that the language of physics – specifically quantum theory – is much more suitable for identifying Burda’s artifacts. I was inspired by John Polkinghorne, a theorist who called himself a critical realist and dedicated himself to popularizing quantum physics.

Looking at the radiant, multi-layered glass eyes of Rudolf Burda, the parallel with the principle of superposition comes to mind. The spheres seem to combine several states of matter that we do not know in the real world. Similarly, polished stainless steel objects generate several optical illusions, whose “reality” is not a simple universe but an entire multiverse. In the environment of Burda’s objects, the viewer is confronted with a series of metaphysical questions related to the effort to understand what is actually happening to us as observers, in what elusive story of pure beauty on the edge of endurance we find ourselves. On the other hand, a certain austerity, minimalism, and the author’s discipline define intelligibility, which holds the key to the mentioned reality, a place in the world.

We perceive it in its Newtonian simplicity, but behind it, we sense a quantum world of Heisenbergian uncertainty. Rudolf Burda’s indescribable artifacts are found at this peculiar junction. They interact economically, not loquaciously, and thus become more attractive (like the randomness of tropical dawn).

"Quantum theory, as well as art, teaches us that the world is full of surprises."

- Lenka Lindaurová
Critic and Curator
March 2023

CURATORIAL STATEMENTS

“Burda’s art objects reveal hidden layering of clear and colored glass and remind the viewer that a ubiquitous, Universal Ocean of cosmic forces that surrounds everything.”

Since the beginning of the 20th century, art has adopted a series of new expressive mediums. However, glass and crystal remain some of the most widely used materials in the context of applied arts from the beginning of recorded time. In recent past, the most eminent artists who comprised their works with application of glass were from Central Europe and mostly Bohemia.

Rudolf Burda is connected to this remarkable tradition both by his production design and free artistic creation. This develops the concept of dynamics and unity in the relationship with fundamental existential statements. Glass and crystal are materials that somehow reconstruct the creation of natural crystals. During their execution, minerals were undergoing a process known as crystallization. At a certain temperature the ore is still in a liquid state, and by cooling it solidifies to polyhedral shape. The inner composition is characterized by the perfect order of its molecules.

This harmonic structure is the reason why the natural compound derives electromagnetic force. It has the ability to interact in a positive manner. Burda is trying to preserve these qualities in his work. Additionally, he is attempting to penetrate the secrets of the material containing an enchanted space. At the final stage the artist is letting us experience the magical view of the infinite. Burda’s art objects reveal hidden layering of clear and color contrasts, insights and reflections of light objects, enable a viewer to visualize the energy field of the vital structure of his pieces. In his creations Rudolf Burda preserves the memory of glass and crystal transmutation. He carries out the conditions for galactic change, corresponding to the high tides and flow of life energy, connecting the macrocosm and microcosm. It helps to address conflict energetic antagonism by returning to the Arché — primordial unity of material and energy, the physical and metaphysical symbiosis.

- Miroslava Hajek
Art Historian, Critic and Curator of Bruno Munari

"Taking a firm rooting in the canon of art history, Rudolf Burda’s works are at once arresting and seductive."

Burda’s continued explorations into the medium of glass within contemporary art and design see him pushing the envelope of what is possible. Burda’s work seeks to find the perfect form and as such, a profound and universal beauty intrinsically recognized by all its viewers.

- William Davie
Gagosian Gallery, Aesthetica Magazine, Kolekto Magazine, This Is Tomorrow, Hunger Magazine, Tremors Magazine

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Rudolf took over the task with pure enthusiasm and convinced us that he could handle large formats. The cooperation was professional and effective, and the result was stunning.

Andreas Kaufmann (Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Managing Director of Leica Camera AG)

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VIDEOS

NORD ART 2019

ART BAB 2018

BIG ROTATION FOR LEICA CONSTRUCTION

BIG ROTATION FOR LEICA 2018

Portrait

EXHIBITIONS

1995

Steel and Glass — Museum of Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic

2011

GLASS — Hotel Aplaus, Smetanova Litomyšl, Czech Republic

Futurista / 3dh — Glass Objects — Czech Republic

2012

Boudoir Club Society Prague under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic — Prague, Czech Republic

Gate Gallery “GLASS OBJECTS” / Naked Geometry of F. Drtikol — Gate Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic

12th Festival of Art and Glass — Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

RUDOLF BURDA — ABYSSUS — Sun Gallery, Spa Resort Sanssouci, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

ART FAIR UTRECHT — Van Loon Galleries — Utrecht, Netherlands

2013

Moser Art Gallery “CZECH GLASS MASTERS” — Moser Art Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic

Prague 13th Festival of Art And Glass — Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

YELLOW ABYSSUS NO.1 — J&T Bank, Prague, Czech Republic

2014

RUDOLF BURDA GLASS — Pop Up Gallery Art Salon S, Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic

INDEX DUBAI — Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2015

MUSEUM OF GLASS AND JEWELLERY — Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic

INDEX DUBAI — Dubai, United Arab Emirates

ŠKODA AUTO UNIVERSITY — Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic

Chateau Hostačov — Hostačov, Czech Republic

GLASSPLUS À LA BORGES — DSC Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic

2016

RR&RB Exhibition at Rolls-Royce Showroom — Rolls-Royce Showroom, Prague, Czech Republic

Permanent Exhibition at Mánes — Mánes Exhibition Hall, Prague, Czech Republic

LP&RB Le Palais Art Hotel — Le Palais Art Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

JIANGSU ART FAIR — Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China

Art Miami SCOPE; CONTEXT Art Miami — Miami, Florida, USA

2017

LA ART SHOW 2017 — Los Angeles, California, USA

Personal Exhibition at Stal Gallery — Stal Gallery, Muscat, Oman

AFF — Singapore

SCOPE New York — New York City, New York, USA

ART BASEL — Basel, Switzerland

World Trade Organization — WTO — Geneva, Switzerland

LAYERS, JÖRG HEITSCH GALLERY — Jörg Heitsch Gallery, Munich, Germany

Art Miami CONTEXT — Miami, Florida, USA

MIRROR SPACE, Stal Gallery — Stal Gallery, Muscat, Oman

2018

BOS FINE ART — UNTITLED TZT — The Hague, Netherlands

HEITSCH GALLERY — HIGHLIGHTS — Jörg Heitsch Gallery, Munich, Germany

BRATISLAVA CASTLE — Cermak Eisenkraft Gallery — Bratislava Castle, Bratislava, Slovakia

VOLOSHYN GALLERY — DIALOG — BURDA & DEYAK — Voloshyn Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine

ART KARLSRUHE — HEITSCH GALLERY — Karlsruhe, Germany

ART BAB 2018 — Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

ART PARIS ART FAIR — Cermak Eisenkraft Gallery — Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris, France

AFF Art Fair — Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong

KYIV ART WEEK, Voloshyn Gallery — Kyiv, Ukraine

LEICA — BIG ROTATION — Leica Headquarters, Wetzlar, Germany

SKULPTURALE — JÖRG HEITSCH GALLERY — Jörg Heitsch Gallery, Munich, Germany

ART EXPO Malaysia — Mookji Art — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

SOFA — Peimbert Gallery — Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, USA

A — Solo Exhibition — Arete Invest, Cermak Eisenkraft Gallery — Prague, Czech Republic

CONTEXT Art Basel Miami — Heitsch Gallery — Miami Beach, Florida, USA

2019

DOPE — TAKSU Gallery — TAKSU Gallery, Singapore

HIGHLIGHTS — Heitsch Gallery — Jörg Heitsch Gallery, Munich, Germany

Art Karlsruhe — Heitsch Gallery — Karlsruhe Trade Fair Center, Karlsruhe, Germany

Art Madrid — Art Lounge Gallery — Madrid, Spain

Art BAB 2019 — Bruno Massa Gallery — Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Art Prague 2019 — Prag Artworks — Prague, Czech Republic

NordArt 2019 — MULTIVERSUM — Kunstwerk Carlshütte, Büdelsdorf, Germany

KLAF 2019 — Architecture Festival, TAKSU Gallery — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ART EXPO Malaysia 2019, TAKSU Gallery — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

KASUGA GALLERY — Tokyo, Japan

CONTEXT Art Basel Miami — Miami Beach, Florida, USA

2020

LA Art Show — Fine Art — Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

Art in LA Affair BEVERLY HILLS, ACCA Gallery — Beverly Hills, California, USA

Art Madrid — Art Lounge Gallery — Madrid, Spain

Kasuga Gallery — Tokyo, Japan

TAKSU Galleries — Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

BLACK POWER & WHITE POWER, Stainless Steel Sculptures I & II — Prague, Czech Republic

CIRCLE OF LIFE, Stainless Steel Sculpture, Carrara Marble + Black Stone — Central Hospital of Mladá Boleslav, Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic

2021

Letní výtvarný salon, Kodl Contemporary — Prague, Czech Republic

2022

TAKSU Gallery — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore

COLUMN / NEBESSLOUP, Petr Kellner Collection / PPF ART — Prague, Czech Republic

SPACE SHIP, Private Collection — Prague, Czech Republic

2023

“9” RUDOLF BURDA & TUGENDHAT — Villa Tugendhat, Brno, Czech Republic

RUDOLF BURDA “∞” — Smetanova Litomyšl, Litomyšl, Czech Republic

2024

VELAA — Velaa Private Island, Maldives

COLLECTIONS

Brovdi Art, Art & Culture Foundation — Uzhhorod, Ukraine

Cermak Eisenkraft Collection — Prague, Czech Republic

Huan Taihu Lake Art Museum — Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China

King of Saudi Arabia Collection — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Kingdom of Bahrain — HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa — Manama, Bahrain

LEICA — Wetzlar, Germany

Museum of Glass and Jewellery — Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic

Malaysia — Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj Collection — Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Martin Burda Collection — Prague, Czech Republic

E. Mulders Collection — Netherlands

RB&RR Rolls Royce Collection — Goodwood, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Roman Abramovich Collection — London, United Kingdom

Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Collection — Manama, Bahrain

Suncheon MOMA — Suncheon, South Korea

Trish Duggan Collections / Imagine Museum — St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

The Zain Collection — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Gallery de Kasuga — Tokyo, Japan

Milan Černohous Collection — Prague, Czech Republic

Milan Maděryč Collection — Prague, Czech Republic

Petr Kellner Collection / PPF ART — Prague, Czech Republic

Kodl Contemporary Collection — Prague, Czech Republic

Otakar Šuffner Collection — Prague, Czech Republic

VELAA — Velaa Private Island, Maldives

GALLERIES

Global Art Source — Zurich, Switzerland

DSC Gallery — Prague, Czech Republic

Christopher Martin Gallery — Aspen, Colorado, USA and Dallas, Texas, USA

Kodl Contemporary — Prague, Czech Republic

Museum Kampa — Prague, Czech Republic

Stal Gallery — Muscat, Oman

Voloshyn Gallery — Kyiv, Ukraine

Taksu Gallery — Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Melissa Morgan Fine Art — Palm Desert, California, USA

Art Lines — Krakow, Poland

Art Lounge Portugal — Lisbon, Portugal

Kunsthalle Prague — Prague, Czech Republic

VELAA — Velaa Private Island, Maldives

WEBSITE MANAGED BY RUDOLF BURDA V.