In morphology and colour composition, Waage's work has seemingly remained unchanged for long periods

I dream when I paint,
or
do I paint while I dream?

Bohunka Waageová, a leading Czech painter and graphic artist, asks herself in her studio in Vinohrady during the preparation for the September exhibition at Zdeněk Hajný's Cesta ke světlu Gallery in Prague. The question is not out of place, as the work of this artist is known for its strong spiritual life. However, let's give the floor to an expert on the word, art historian Jaroslav Vanč, who in the catalogue of one of the previous exhibitions of the artist - The Spiritual Universe of Bohunka Waageová's Paintings - says, among other things:

"The world of her paintings is an environment in which coloured matter is combined and bound together in the manner of spiritual extensions, impulses and forces. In its morphology and colour composition, Waage's work has seemingly remained unchanged for long periods. But let us not be done with judgment before we realize that the very color, light, and dynamics of the painter's cosmogonic scenes are constantly changing...The paintings thus spiritually live, pulsate, and permeate the space, however defined by the classical frame format."

Angels of Light

The above-mentioned exhibition of Bohunka Waageová will be held in the cultural stand of the legendary Zdeněk Hajný in Chodov, who left the art lovers ten years ago. His legacy is conscientiously taken care of by the curator Emilie Hajná, who successfully continues the mystical, esoteric and a bit cosmic focus of the gallery. The opening will take place on 2 September, and the exhibition will run until 10 January 2026.

Ave light

Art historians and art reviewers often point out that Bohunka Waageová is characterised by her so-called luminous paintings. "It's true," smiles the artist, "my motto is - Ave light. For me it means a way to people, the sun, the universe. I paint positive images because I want to give people hope, love, creativity through my work. But I also take a lot of photos and then I choose nature motifs from the pictures. Especially trees, which, as I often tell journalists at openings, I love. And that's because of the positive energy they give us. I then process the photographed trees in my own way.

I also do a lot of imagination and these are my main themes concerning the Universe and the Earth. People call it "angel imagery". In all my life and of course in my paintings, I prefer light. It's poetic, charging, magical..." the artist confided to us during our editorial visit, but she does not shy away from the well-crafted curves of female bodies, embedded in the chaos of the universe.

Prague - Milano

Bohunka Waageová has lived and worked for many years in Prague's Vinohrady, which she says is her promised land. Last year she blew out seventy-five imaginary candles on her birthday cake. On that occasion, the idea for the birthday girl's exhibition series, entitled From October to October, was born. Bohunka Waaegová thus presented herself in several Prague and non-Prague exhibition halls on the theme of imagination and nature. It also included the launch of a convolute of chamber prints. These were twelve lithographic sheets signed by the painter, intended for collectors and art lovers. Read more here

Once her exhibition Angels of Light at Zdeněk Hajný's Cesta ke světlu Gallery (2.9 2025 - 10.1 2026) in Prague's Chodov district is over, Bohunka Waageová's collection of dreamlike paintings will then head to Milan, Italy, where it will be on display during the summer in one of the leading local art sanctuaries. But that will be the subject of our next article.

Curriculum vitae
Bohunka Waageová, painter and graphic artist. Born in 1948 in Ústí nad Labem, studied at SOŠV in Prague. She is a member of important art associations - SČUG Hollar and Jednota umelců výtvarných v Praze. She has had half a hundred solo exhibitions at home and abroad (the most recent ones include presentations in Děčín at the "marARTin" Gallery, an exhibition at the Violino Club in Prague accompanied by violin virtuoso Svěcený, and the event "Hradčany Art and Music Festival 2025") and has participated in a long series of joint exhibitions. Her works are represented in public and private collections in the Czech Republic and abroad.

More on: zdenekhajny.com Or: waageova.cz

Prepared by Ivan Černý