Magdalena Jetelová, one of the leading Czech artists of the land art/installation school, has been curiously absent from view in recent years—especially from the New York scene. Hopefully, a major installation of her work at the Czech Center, which opened last night, will amend this situation.

Multiplication of Horizons, the show’s title, comprised of two installations. The first, (Des)Orientation?, features a large, mirrored panel that creates the effect of dissolving the physical boundaries of the gallery space. The second installation, The Iceland Project, provides the viewer with an opportunity to look inside the earth. The work presents a line of light crossing Iceland that suggests evidence of the geological divide between Europe and America.

Through the use of a laser beam, Jetelová provides an opportunity to see evidence of the ongoing changes within the earth, presented in the form of photographs [below]. Jetelová’s stated intention of raising questions about history, the future, and our place in the world is central to her exploration of the spatial and philosophical aspects of dislocation.

Jetelová, who as a young artist studied with Marino Marini, in Italy, previously created massive sculptural installations carved from wood. In 1987, a large installation of work from this period was presented at the Museum of Modern Art as part of its Projects Series. 

Magdalena Jetelová: Multiplication of Horizons, continues at the Czech Center through November 3^rd. 371 East 73^rd Street, NY, NY.

Born in Semily, Czechoslovakia, in 1946, Magdalena Jetelová is an internationally-renowned multi-media artist who lives and works in Munich, Düsseldorf, and Prague. Jetelová's work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Museum des 20 in Jahrhunderts, Vienna; and the Tate Britain. Her work can be found in the permanent collections of many museums including the Hirschhorn Museum, Washington; the Pompidou Centre, Paris; and the Ludwig Collection. From 1990 until 2004, Jetelová was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf. Since 2004, she has been teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. She has also been a visiting professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague since 2008.