Buy the book here or contact me with inquiries about the special edition box set (talissamehringer@gmail.com).
(Kutna Hora Book: Paperback- 88 pages, color.)
KUTNA HORA: SILVER AND BONES
The Bohemian city of Kutna Hora boasts a multitude of historically significant gems- some recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites, and is located just outside of Prague, Czech Republic. The images in this book are the result of a curious investigation into the city’s medieval and gothic charm, and a meticulous print-making process which has captured the romanticism of its ancient corners. Through the combination of sepia-toned mono-prints and hand-transferred black and white photographs, Kutna Hora’s gargoyles, skulls, and history are brought to life.
THE BOOK
The pages in this book feature handmade photographic prints created on painted and distressed canvas. Acrylic mono-prints provide the base for individually transferred photographs depicting scenes around Kutna Hora including St. Barbara’s Cathedral, the historical town center, the Jesuit College surroundings, and the Sedlec Ossuary. All images were taken in 2011 © Talissa Mehringer.
THE SPECIAL EDITION BOX SET
Each box has been meticulously crafted by hand and features a hand-sculpted ossuary inspired cover. The included print was created using the same technique of the works featured in the book and no two are exactly alike. Only a very limited edition of ten boxes and prints have been made.
“Kutna Hora: Argentum et Ossa” has been a project nearly a year in the making. I started out in February reviewing images I had taken on a road trip to Kutna Hora with my best friend and her partner in 2011. Inspired by the medieval and gothic architecture of the streets, and the ornately arranged bones of the Sedlec Ossuary, I wanted the images I created to capture the timelessness and antiquity of these places. As a result, I decided to combine distressed black and white photographs on top of painterly mono-prints. The nature of the process means that each print is one-of-a-kind.
Was ihr seid, das waren wir – was wir sind, das werdet ihr.
What you are is what we were, what we are you shall become.
KUTNA HORA
St. Barbara’s Cathedral is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and boasts a multitude of beautiful grotesques.
A gargoyle watches over St. Barbara’s who was revered as the patron saint of miners. Kutna Hora’s silver mines were a source of much of its wealth dating back to the early 13th century. As a result, a flourishing economy and quickly developing city made it a center of great importance on par with Prague.
The Sedlec Ossuary at Kutna Hora, Czech Republic features the incredibly intricate bone arrangements of woodcarver František Rint. In 1870 he was given the task of bringing order to thousands of bones exhumed from the chapel’s cemetery during the 14-1500s due to construction and to make room for new burials.
I took these images on a trip there with my best friend in 2011 and the incredible atmosphere and stunning impact of the space have left a long-lasting impression and remain a source of inspiration to this day.
Talissa Mehringer © 2020