Museum Sheffield
Líšeň Profile (2010) drawings on paper
Museums Sheffield’s current focus for the visual art collections is the broad theme of identity. This is a thread which runs throughout the art collections, from Jonathan Richardson’s 18th century portrait Lady Mary Wortley Montagu to
Gwen John’s Corner of the Artist’s Room and Marc Quinn’s Kiss.
The long-term intention is to acquire key works which comment on social and political issues. Seeking to engage audiences with concepts such as belonging, a sense of placeand the impact of migration and intercultural exchange.
Líšeň Profile is an inspiring and engaging work which builds on these themes, and is the first by a significant international contemporary artist to enter Sheffield’s collection. Kateřina Šedá’s reputation has grown steadily over the past few years. She has shown work at Documenta XII, Manifesta 7 and the 2008 Berlin Biennial.
Šedá’s work is based around the community where she lives in Brno-Líšeň in the Czech Republic. She uses performance, staged activities and public interventions to reactivate communities and create social interaction.
For Líšeň Profile, Šedá has worked with 500 participants from across the Czech Republic. She invited them to her home
town to create a portrait of Líšeň and its inhabitants, exploring connections between people, community and place.