The collage collection Universal is a playful experiment examining the universality of elements that form our cities, our world. The photographs mostly taken in Prague are deconstructed and later re-built into a new parallel space. Every element in this collection is comprised of multiple versions of itself which are juxtaposed in an egalitarian fashion without judgment. This gives rise to a city which is imperfect and non-pristine, but is open, without prejudice and racism, where different cultures and social forces freely mix.  

I have adored collages since I was a child, and the infinite possibilities of this visual play and it’s meanings fascinate me to this day. The disassembly and re-construction of an image gives rise to many stories and reflections. For this collection, the questions of “What is the universal essence of a city and how can I define it” emerged. For me a city isn’t comprised of only streets, stones, street lamps and houses, but it is also formed by nature and most importantly by people who give cities meaning and life. After all, even trash photographed on the streets can spark imagination.  

Michaela Pospisilova Kralova, author

Michaela Pospíšilová Králová is a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and photographer. Born in Prague in 1982, she began her training at the Secondary School of Textile Arts and then studied book design at the Hellich Higher Vocational School of Graphic Arts. In 2012 she completed her bachelor studies at Opava’s Institute of Creative Photography.

Michaela expresses herself through a wide range of artistic styles; reveling in the possibilities that the blending of photography, painting, drawing, graphic design and embroidery open up. She loves photography for its ability to clearly present the initial objective, for the function of the human memory assigned to it. She also appreciates its openness to further changes and interventions. Michaela works with the photographic archive for a long time. Following her own creative path, rather than passing trends, her work takes its inspiration from the themes that surround her and resonate within.

In 2012, Michaela was awarded the ‘Prize of the Leica Gallery Prague’ (as part of its Frame competition). Named as one of the ‘10 Must-Know Contemporary Czech Artists’ by theculturetrip.com magazine in 2015.