After elementary school Zbynek Semerak was apprenticed as a textile machinery technician. Because of his fragile health, he could not continue this straining job. Afterwards he worked in the local theatre as a builder for the stage and as a scene painter. He finally retired in 1977. Since then, he devoted all his time to drawing. His diluted Indian ink drawings are extremely delicate ; some of them are enhanced by gouache in rich colours, sometimes scraped and painted over again, resembling manuscripts filled with enigmatic writings, similar to hieroglyphs. Only once we look closer, we can decipher historical or mythical themes, articulated around one central figure, probably a sort of self-portrait. Some drawings represent imaginary architectures or technical inventions : locomotives or planes. The sheet is completely filled, divided by ornamental motifs similar to emblems, elements coming from different cultures and religions.



SEE ALSO : 


Simkova, Anezka. Artists of Pure Heart. Naivist and Folk Art, Art Brut. Pavel Konecny collection. Velehrad : Ottobre 12, 2001.



Lusardy, Martine, and Alena Nadvornikova. Art brut tchèque. Paris : Halle Saint-Pierre, 2002.