Pavel Jasanský

Pavel Jasanský
6. 5. – 31. 8. 2025
GHMP Dům fotografie
Curator: Pavel Vančát

Geology graduate Pavel Jasanský (1938–2021) took photographs during his studies at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s for emerging musicians of the day. He also did graphic design for the Viola poetic wine bar, the Prague Ballet, the Za branou and Na zábradlí theatres and the Divoké víno magazine. He also cooperated on photographs and designs for many vinyl records, posters and multimedia productions.

In his non-commissioned work, Pavel Jasanský distinguished himself as a photographer with exceptional empathy and insight as early as in his Paristory series (1967–1976). He also applied these qualities in his independent documentary photography, which over the long-term depicted the emotionally charged microworlds of institutions and hospitals, cemeteries and carnivals. His documentary-oriented work was then used in the book Město (The City) which he originally conceived together with Vladimír Birgus and the poets Petr Cincibuch, Jaromír Pelc and Josef Šimon. The original version, depicting the feelings of a modern city dweller, was reworked and supplemented with photographs by Miroslav Hucek before printing due to its insufficiently optimistic tone.