Living History

Abstract

In my thesis I deal with the topic Living history. The term “living history” is a technical term used by sociologists, it names a group of people who stylized themselves in the past. The theme of living history is very interesting to me in the terms of time blending the past with the present - at the same place at the same time happens something that commemorates the event that took place many years ago. However, these could not be an exact reenactment of copies and reconstructions of ancient events. It is always about the present moment and the personal experience of participants. Therefore we can not say that they play only the fighters because they really live it, and they mean it serious. People who attend these gatherings, basically revive non-existent or dead people. They stopped themselves in the time and they relive again in sentimental and romantic way the ancient event. For my thesis I have chosen the Battle of Lipan, that did take place in the Gothic period in the year 1434. I did not choose the real battle of Lipan, but photos of his reenactment of 2014. On the Internet (rajce.net) I have found an album with photos of this event from 31.5.2014. Photos were taken probably by someone who was a member of this community because they seems to be personal ones. For example some of them were taken during a dinner with other participants. For this reason, I did not use my own photos because like a spectator I would not get so close to them. After viewing photos of the reenactment of the battle and after the visit of Marold´s panorama I was excited for the painting of the battle itself. I did many of paintings on the wall and on the papers, but later after some time I have lost the interest in repainting the picture of the battle by the photographs. I realized that in fact I paint meaningless characters in costumes and that I focus myself more on anatomical accuracy of their bodies instead of focusing on their expressions. After discovering this I knew, that I cannot continue in painting this way and that I need to change my approach. So I did return to a more detailed check of the photos and I have researched what I'm really most interested in on the photos. Already during painting, I gradually realized that I enjoy very much the ,,warriors" faces painting and catching the psychology that is hidden in their faces. While I examined the photos, I have noticed that the persons on the pictures have sympathetic expressions resembling expressions of people from the old Gothic paintings. These people are usually dressed in a simple, contemporary clothes, that is produced themselves, they eat a modest meal and they looks like a martyrs. Leaving the painting by photograph was very liberating for me, because I finally began to paint something what was not visible on the photos, but what I feel that it is hidden there. I realized that for me most interesting on my work are the today people with their lives, their actions and long-suffering expressions, they made present real dead warriors who fell in the battle of Lipan in 1434. It is the past captured in the faces of those present. And I find it incredibly interesting. After this realization, I am convinced that the best way to get closer to my fascination, I can just draw a face with present eyes and distinctive expression. There is no more need for me of painting the whole scenes from the battle