Kunstkamera / signed by the author / DVD included / limited number

Jan Švankmajer has been building his unique Kunstkammer at the castle in Horní Staňkov since the 1980s. This remarkable collection represents a distinctive reinterpretation of Renaissance kunstkammern. It blends natural objects, curiosities, found objects, works of art—including an extensive collection of art brut—and the artist’s own objects. Through their interrelationships and unexpected connections, they create a distinctive microcosm in which the boundaries between nature and art, reality and fantasy, are blurred. The Kunstkamera is thus not merely a collection, but an autonomous work of art that reflects Švankmajer’s imagination, his fascination with matter, alchemy, surrealism, and the hidden meanings of things.

This lavish Czech-English publication presents this extraordinary collection in its entirety for the very first time through more than 300 photographs. Accompanying essays by leading experts place the Kunstkamera within the broader context of art history, collecting, and the Surrealist tradition, highlighting its exceptional place not only in the work of Jan Švankmajer but also in European cultural tradition.

This limited edition of 100 numbered copies includes a DVD featuring the uncensored director’s cut of the film Kunstkamera. Both the DVD and the book are signed by the director.

You can find more about Jan Švankmajer and other products from his body of work that we offer at this link.