Trafology (2006-2014)

Summary publication about the 8 years of existence of the Prague artistic group Trafačka.

The Prague artistic group Trafačka (Jan Kaláb, Michal Cimala, Jakub Nepraš and Blanka Čermáková) publishes a comprehensive publication about eight years of its existence a year after the last exhibition in the industrial premises of the Vysočan substation. More than 200 exhibitions, concerts, performances, graffiti jams, screenings, workshops, theater performances, fashion shows and international festivals of various focus, along with documentation of coexistence in almost forty studios and changes in the surrounding environment, including its own facade, up to the complete comparison of the building with countries. 252 pages capture the atmosphere with photographs and quotes from interviews with residents.

"I mainly fell in love not so much with the hall, but with the barrack, because it is a beautiful building. Tubular staircase and exit to the pavilion. The layout of the barracks and the yard, how it is nicely divided, it is great architecture."

"Honza Kalab had a huge bundle of keys in his hand and was walking around the house with a group of people. They were unlocking those horrible junkie apartments and everyone took one of the keys straight away.''

"We met here at the approval of the H3téčka sauna. After the sauna actually. In the ambulance. They were in the sauna, his ex came there saying she wanted him back and threw a mug in his face. An ambulance was called because he had fallen into the dishes. If that girl was involved, it would have to be reported. He ended up with plastic surgery. Well, in four days he called me that he would like to see me, and then we got together. And as Mikulášská was, I was already pregnant there. That was actually exactly a year later. In the end, I gave birth on that Bulovka."

Jan H. Vitvar took part in the editing of Blanka Čermáková's interviews with selected residents, the summarizing historical text was written by Otto M. Urban, the introductions to the chapters were contributed by the founding artists. The photos were provided by artists from their own archives, supplemented by images from Tomáš Rasl, Markéta Dlouhá Márová, Václav Hník, Alžběta Jungrová and others. The graphic design was prepared by Trafačka's court graphic designer Michal Škapa. The book also contains a reduced English translation of the texts.

Each of the artists who passed through Trafačka during its relatively short history has its own space in the book. It is a very diverse constellation of personalities, dealing with various fields such as architecture, painting, drawing, sculpture, video installation, animation, conceptual art, graffiti, street art, urban art, performance, creating musical instruments, weaving canvas, programming, sound installations, DIY art, etc. Namely, e.g. Jan Kaláb, Martin Káňa, Jakub Nepraš, David Brudňák, Michal Dvořák, Michal Cimala, Blanka Čermáková, Jana a Vitché, Brad Downey, Hynek Vacek, Honet, Esher, Loomit, Robert Šalanda, Linda Čihařová, Anja Kaumann, Epos 257, Stanley Povoda, Jan Padyšák, Jiří Felcman, Jakub Janovský, Tomáš Bařinka, Adam Stanko, Zasd, Jan Mráz, Jakub Matuška, Světlana Fialová, Dan Vlček, Mario Chromý, Architects H3T, Jan Vidlička, Petr Horák, Paul Aloisi, Charlie Green, Tereza Greschnerová, Matěj Hájek, Tomáš Skála, Aleš Zemene, Pavel Šebek, Michal Fábera, Veronika Daňhelová, Jan Vlček, Martin Krajc, Jakub Hubálek, Pavel Strachota, Terezie Honsová, Jiří Kaman, Václav Girsa, Darina Alster, Linda Mikolášková, Kateřina Zemene, Jan Zdvořák, Magdalena Nováková, Matěj Olmer, Aleš Brázdil, Martina Chloupa, Tereza Janoušková, Martin Vála, Pavel Šejgunov, Martina Chwistková, Jana Polášková, Milan Kyprý, Michal Pustějovský, Petra Oplatková, Lukáš Ježek, Tomáš Linhart, Yves Degoyon . Hošková, Ellis Unique, Filip Kovařík, Jan Burgert, Jürgen Gross, Matthias Wermke, Mischa Leinkauf, Petr Brož, Jakub Roztočić, Tom Pazderka, Daniela Kožmínová and others.

text authors Michal Cimala, Blanka Čermáková, Jan Kaláb, Jakub Nepraš, Otto M. Urban, Jan H. Vitvar editorial team Blanka Čermáková, Jan H. Vitvar graphic design Michal Škapa feat. Jan Matoušek
a selection of quotes from interviews with artists Tomáš Bařinka, Epos 257, Václav Girsa, Anežka Hošková, Martina Chwistková, Jakub Janovský, Jakub Matuška, Magdalena Nováková, Štěpán Řehoř, Vít Šimek, Jan Vlček, Jan Zdvořák, Aleš Zemenetranscripts of interviews Kateřina Černá, Blanka Čermáková . Ortmann, Barbora Johansson Pivoňková, Tomáš Rasl, Marcel Rozhoň, Tomáš Souček, Tomáš Třeštík, Radim and Petra Výchopň, Xdog, Rostislav Zapletal, thank you www.phatbeatz.cz, www.mistamehomesta.cz, www.puppenklinik-fineart.info, www .magio.org, Orchestra Berg, Echofluxx, Fresh Eye, the Dopravní podnik archive and all members and exhibitors in Trafačka for photos from their archives.

translations by Phil Jones
Proofreading of texts by Tereza Hubáčková
font used Trafid, Jan Matoušek (Magio Works)
paper G-Print 150g/m², Popset Virgin Pulp Pivoine / Poppy 170g/m²
Astron a.s. printer
number of copies 1000 pcs
Number of pages: 252

Published by Spolek Trafačka on the occasion of the 9th birthday of Trafačka and the exhibition Trafology (2006–2014), organized in the premises of Trafo Galerie, Ex Post, Příčná 1, Prague 1 on days 5–30. 12. 2015.