The exhibition Rozhraní: Tvorba a výzkum (Interface: Creation and Research) presents another chapter in the series of exhibitions by students of the Interdisciplinary Research through Visual Art Creation doctoral program. Their projects straddle the boundaries between art, science, and technology, and their work often transcends the traditional boundaries of individual disciplines. The exhibited works are not only the result of intuitive creation, but are based on long-term experimental research. Under the guidance of their supervisors, students develop themes that connect aesthetic, technological, psychological, sociological, and philosophical levels. They deal, for example, with the principles of vision and imaging, the possibilities of manipulation and verification, and the variability of perception and experience in the contemporary world. Rapidly evolving technologies give art the opportunity to intensify the sensory experience and open up new dimensions of perception. At the same time, however, they raise questions about limits, losses, and new forms of orientation in the world.

Just as Renaissance artists conceived of art as a comprehensive way of understanding the world, today's doctoral students understand creation as a tool for exploration—not only visually formal, but also multifaceted and rational. Their research transcends the artistic realm and finds application in other areas as well, from scientific research to social applications.

The exhibition presents the ongoing phases of research—fragments, traces, questions. These are not definitive outputs, but rather documents of a journey that often leads through dead ends, detours, and uncertainties. The exhibition also includes work that is not directly part of the doctoral project, but is being carried out in parallel,
as part of the authors' artistic activities. In some cases, visitors can also follow the development of individual artists whom they encounter repeatedly, giving them the opportunity to perceive the transformation of their approaches and the maturing of their research questions.

In his dissertation, supervised by Štěpán Grygar, Sergey Lelyukh explores the relationships between photographic images, text, and iconographic tradition.
He draws on his own cultural and spiritual background, which blends influences from Orthodox thinking, visual experiences with icons, and the context of contemporary art and photography. Parallel to and independently of this research, Lelyukh devotes himself to painting—specifically watercolor, one of the most demanding and unforgiving artistic disciplines. He explores the technological and spiritual aspects of the painting process, traditional methods, and the medium itself as a carrier of meaning and craftsmanship.

Michal Poustka, whose supervisor is Jaroslav Vančát, focuses his doctoral research on digital experiences, specifically the relationship between user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). Using extended reality (XR), he tests the brain's responses to sensory stimuli that violate the usual laws of physics. He observes how our brain interprets what we see, what we take for granted, and how easily this perception can be disrupted. In doing so, he touches on the field of psychotechnology—tools that can not only expand or calm human consciousness, but also manipulate it. His research overlaps with design, education, and therapy—such technologies can be used for relaxation, trauma treatment, and even shaping perceptions of the world. In the exhibition, Poustka works with simple photographic means to capture situations that at first glance appear to be fragments of ordinary reality. But it is precisely this reality that turns out to be the strangest, most absurd story of all. These are visual micro-stories – unfinished, open-ended, leaving room for the viewer's imagination.

Kristina Zejkanová is a designer with a conceptual and philosophical approach. In her work, she has long been concerned with issues of sustainability, the impact of production and consumption on the environment, recycling, and upcycling. She is also interested in the role of media, digital imagery, and visual presentation in relation to human identity.
Her dissertation, written under the supervision of her advisor Jana Potiron, deals with the phenomenon of mirror selfies and their impact on the perception of the boundary between public and private. Her dissertation, written under the supervision of her advisor Jana Potiron, deals with the phenomenon of mirror selfies and their impact on the perception of the boundary between public and private space. She observes how these changes are reflected in clothing, interior design,
and presentation on social networks, which she perceives as a powerful catalyst for mainstreaming. In her current project, she presents several material, modified ready-made objects that reflect everyday life, simulation, and the shifting boundaries of intimacy. Zejkanová thus raises questions about identity reflected not only in digital space, but also in the things that surround us.

Curator: Daniela Kramerová

Opening: October 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM

The exhibition is accessible from October 15 to October 30, 2025

MON–FRI: 10 AM–6 PM

Faculty building, Univerzitní 28, Plzeň