The Czech photographer and pedagogue Jindrich Štreit (born 5 September 1946 in Vsetín) is an exceptional chronicler and narrator. For over five decades he describes life in the countryside in the Czech regions of northern Moravia and Bohemia in his black and white photographs. The main themes of Štreit’s pictures are human relationships and situations of everyday life, sometimes absurd and sometimes picturesque.
Since 1991 he has taught at the Institute of Creative Photography of Silesian University in Opava.
This publication contains a large set of his famous pictures from this period, but as well unpublished works. It is published as a German-English-French edition and includes a text about the photographer by the Czech photographer and author Vladimir Birgus.
Marta Kubišová – Hey Jude. From: The Unbearable Lightness Of Being (Original Soundtrack Recording) ℗ 1988 Fantasy Records.
Těchanov, 1981
Křížov (1981)
Sovinec, 1980
Jindrich Štreit describes the isolation and loneliness of people in everyday life in the socialist collective. But in private life, as well as at joint celebrations and encounters, the photographs show the joy of life, a strong community and solidarity.
This becomes all the clearer when compared with the recordings of the official rallies and celebrations of the state. The contrast between the pictures of Streit and the official ideological representations could not be more serious. The criticism of the existing living conditions was always present in the pictures and could not be understood by a totalitarian state other than a criticism.
This led to a publication ban in any form from the 80s, Arrests and constant controls by the state power. So he remained an unknown in photographic history, despite constant photography until the end of socialism. Since the 1990s, after his rehabilitation, his pictures have been shown worldwide and are represented in the most important photographic collections.
Publisher’s Info
Ruda, 1984
Jiříkov, 1981
Sovinec, 1987
Book Specs: Photo selection: Thomas Gust, Ana Druga, Vladimír Birgus; Concept and design: Thomas Gust, Ana Druga; Languages: German, English, French; Hard cover / linen cover; 137 black and white images; Triton print; 22.5 cm x. 30.5 cm; ISBN 978-3-9819805-6-1. You find it here.
