K.O.V.

The metal - K.O.V. (concept, object, meaning) studio wants to lead students towards a deeper understanding of the wide spectrum of art in space through an interdisciplinary approach to material, concept and form, in a close relationship to design, architecture and contemporary art.    Students cultivate their intellectual skills and artistic feeling through experiments with different materials, paying particular attention to metals, and express their creative potential in visionary concepts. Function, technical qualities and originality applied in art crafts are phenomena influencing our perception of the world around us. The aim of this studio is to stimulate students' individual skills and creativity.  

During their studies, students attend a series of technical courses where they learn about the basic processes and technologies relevant to work with metals in order to be able to produce the designed products, from the initial study models and sketches to the final product.   

According to their abilities and interests, they can choose from a wide range of applications, from jewelry, items of everyday use and details applied in interior design or architecture, to fine art.

Students are invited to cooperate with other studios in order to acquire the ability of comprehensive thinking within more extensive multidisciplinary projects.

In each term, students visit technological operations, studios of main representatives of the field and exhibitions in galleries and museums in the Czech Republic and abroad.

The leaders of the studio require their students to study the worldwide events in their discipline and to learn about the works of important artists, designers and architects, using the internet, with a subsequent presentation of the information they have found and drawing a conclusion in the form of audiovisual or written essays.

Another important skill obtained by the students in the course of their studies is the public presentation of their studio works. The K.O.V. studio presents its works in exhibitions, design shows at home and abroad and in commercial galleries. In this way, students are confronted with the reaction of the expert public.

Graduates from the K.O.V. studio know that they have learned something valuable, are able to think objectively and have at least an idea of who they are and which direction they want to follow. 

Awards

Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design rector's Award 2007 / for the best studio

Awarded students

Klára Šípková - "Excellent student design 2009" for the STRETCH collection of jewelry
Anna Steinerová - "Excellent student design 2008" for the SHOPRING collection of jewelry
Kateřina Řezáčová - Department of Applied Art Award of the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design 2008

Nominations:

Nastassia Aleinikava and Kateřina Matěchová "New Designer of the Year", Czech Grand Design 2008

Studio exhibitions

Designblok 09, Prague - presentation of the K.O.V. studio
"Works in Progress" , Czech Centre, New York 2009
Designblok 08, Prague - presentation of the K.O.V. studio
 "Organic", Sudio LR, Prague 2008
Sales exhibition at the QUBUS AT DOX shop, Prague 

Students participating in collective exhibitions 

Kateřina Matěchová, "My Europe", Brussels, Prague 2009
Nastassia Aleinikava "Mikrosvět radosti"(Microcosmos of joy) Křehký by Designblok, Česká spořitelna gallery, Prague 2009
Kateřina Matěchová, Lucie Houdková "Structures", the Reverso gallery, Lisabon 2008
Kateřina Matěchová, Nastassia Aleinikava, Klára Šípková - Window Gallery, Česká spořitelna, Praha 2009

Articles

"Objektový K.O.V. nejlepším ateliérem Designbloku", DesignMagazin.cz 
"Nastassia Aleinikava: Pavouci", DesignGuide.cz
"Kateřina Matěchová: Pastelky, klikaté šperky", DesignGuide.cz, 
VŠUP na Designbloku 09, CZECHDESIGN.CZ 
Klára Šípková,
Nastassia Aleinikava, Mýtická bytost v Praze
Lukáš Urbanec