Roubiček couple – 75 Years Jubilee

Exhibition date:  October – November 1997

On this significant anniversary, the Czech fine art glassworkers couple Miluše Roubíčkova and Rene Roubíček celebrate more than fifty years in the profession, each making a unique contribution to its evolving identity.

After finishing his studies at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague, René Roubíček became a teacher at the Secondary School of Glass Applied Arts in Kamenický Šenov (1945-1952). Simultaneously, he collaborated with the glass industry and contributed to the creation of new forms of cut glass. He achieved work with cold glass that gave it the appearance of a living substance. The individuality of Mr. Roubíček’s glassmaking began to emerge as hotworking techniques expanded with the glass masters. The need for monumental pieces, created for national representation at the World Exhibitions in Brussels (1958), Montreal (1967), and Osaka (1970), presented an unrepeatable opportunity for him in his early career. The works created during these events represent an underappreciated abstract line of expression in Czech artistic glass. The subjects for inspiration were often drawn from nature and its manifestations.

Water, Rain, Cloud, and Tree – each dynamic natural phenomenon was materialized in glass. However, the main focus remained on the glass itself. In the early 1970s, the artist gradually moved away from abstract forms, choosing near-realistic shapes. His head sculptures gained special status, exploring themes with a sensitivity to individual expression. This is particularly evident in his creation of a group of solitaires, anonymous yet unmistakably individual. His playfulness is shown in works celebrating his life, musicians, literary figures, and painters. His sense of irony also manifests in his humorous interpretation of female bodies, most notably in his work Little Fingers. Continuous collaboration with the glass masters led Rene Roubíček to the essence of glass creation.

He has presented the results of these endeavors at numerous exhibitions, the most recent being in 1996 at the Venezia Aperto Vetro in Venice. During this period, the Roubíček Figures were assembled from various colored segments. His independent artistic expression, both for architecture and in collaboration with architects, reflects the changes in his understanding of studio glass. His work appears in a variety of architectural elements, including interior and exterior objects, dividing walls, light fixtures, fountains, and sculptures. Rene Roubíček’s work engages in a dialogue with architectural space, visible in many modern building projects since the late 1950s. His recent collaborative work with German architect Bernhard Focht began at Schloßberg Chateau in 1990 and continues to this day.

Miluše Roubíčková studied at the same Academy of Applied Arts in Prague and under the same teachers, Jaroslav Holeček and Josef Kaplický. Early in her career, her work was linked with the glass-working industry. From the late 1940s, she designed tableware and decorative glass. Her silver medal at the 1957 Milan Triennale is international recognition of her design flair.

She significantly influenced the development of Czech cut glass, particularly with her cut bowl showcased at the 1958 World Exhibition in Brussels. Her close cooperation with glass-working masters, as well as her interest in restoring traditional folk glassworking techniques, led to the creation of her distinct glass world. Miluše Roubíčková enriched Czech glass with a specific pop-art expression through her glass bouquets, trays with fruit or cake, cabbage heads, and plastic bags. Heads also form a special group in her work, but unlike those by Rene Roubíček, hers feature a desire for greater simplicity in form.

As we reflect on the 75th birthdays of Miluše Roubíčková and Rene Roubíček, we sincerely wish that their zest for life and enthusiasm for their craft will continue to guide them for many years to come.