Ondrej KOHOUT, 2010 Ein auffälliger und ein unauffälliger Schwimmer Ein auffälliger und ein unauffälliger Schwimmer

Surfacing, breathing and diving back down – the swimmer in Ondřej Kohout’s work has just come up to the water surface before repeating the rhythm of his swimming movements and submerging completely again. The title of the work – “A Conspicuous and an Inconspicuous Swimmer” – has a two-pronged, humorous twist, as the protagonist wants to be seen, come what will, yet at the same time is completely oblivious of his surroundings, absorbed in the sequence of movements needed to reach his goal, and overlooks the swimmer below him. Kohout’s art repeatedly engages with sport and specific sequences of movements. His figurative paintings depict individuals passionately devoted to whichever sport they practice. The swimmer stretches his arms and legs, filling and dominating the entire pictorial plane. That conjures up a sense that we can hear the water sloshing about. The swimming goggles and athletic arms hint at the figure’s sporting ambitions, while also suggesting the kind of healthy lifestyle that has long since become a way of life in the Global North. People seize any opportunity to keep up with the current longevity trend. Sport, eating sensibly, avoiding toxic substances, taking care of mental health, and stress reduction are just a handful of the myriad indicators of a sustainable lifestyle that however often goes hand-in-hand with paying little attention to the rest of the world.