Kamil Lhoták

Kamil Lhoták was a self-taught painter, graphic artist and illustrator and a member of the famous art group 42 (Skupina 42). The group distanced themselves from the vision of socialist realist culture enforced by the Stalinist regime. In 1943, many of the members participated in an exhibition in Nova Paka. As well as Lhoták, the exhibition included members such as Frantisek Gross (lots 50, 51 and 53), Frantisek Hudecek, Lev Simak, Jan Smetana (lot 54), Jan Kotik and the photographer Miroslav Hak. One aim of the group was to discover magic in the banality of everyday life and in ‘the world in which we live’. For Lhoták, inspiration came from the extraordinary world of inventions. In a wholly unique and charming way, he painted bicycles, motorbikes, airplanes, cars, dirigibles (lot 59) and also modern sporting events.

The present work captures a bright yellow hot-air balloon rising over an enormous hangar, atop which sits a British flag. Bright splotches of colour suggest couples strolling towards the entrance of the hangar and a busy motorway snakes past. In addition to the numerous technological wonders, a plume of smoke is seen in the distance, reminding the viewer of the changes brought by industrialisation.