Markéta Zlesáková is a Czech visual artist working with an unusually wide range of materials and media. During her three-month artistic residency in Cairo, we had the opportunity not only to host her but also to observe the fascinating process of creation—from purchasing “endless” rolls of fabrics in different spots around Cairo, through inspiring conversations, to the many hours of painting and artistic work itself.
One of Markéta’s key sources of inspiration is the Arab world, especially Arabic calligraphy, ornament, and Islamic art. Cairo therefore provided an exceptionally stimulating environment for her work. Her temporary studio gradually filled with fabrics, maps, books, calligraphic exercises—calligraphy is something she has long practiced and studied—as well as works in progress that combine different materials, patterns, and found objects. The result is a poetic visual language shaped by encounters with the city.
For my paintings here in Cairo, I work within the technical possibilities of the entire wall that I have at my disposal. At home in my studio I do not have this arrangement. Usually I work in the traditional way, painting on canvas stretched over a wooden frame.
The residency culminated in a selling exhibition at the Falak café and gallery in Cairo titled Dear Ramadan, where visitors could see works created during the artist’s stay in Cairo, closely connected with the atmosphere of the month of Ramadan. The exhibition presented a series of works reflecting Markéta’s dialogue with local visual culture, traditions, and the atmosphere of the city.
Markéta Zlesáková’s artistic residency was supported by Czech Centres and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cairo. Her work can be followed on Instagram at @marletazlesa.
