Milan Knížák

With deep regret, we received the news of the passing of Milan Knížák (1940–2026), one of the most prominent figures in Czech post-war art. His work consistently crossed the boundaries between visual art, music, performance, and everyday life, significantly influencing the development of action and intermedia art in Central Europe as well as the international Fluxus movement.

His legacy forms an important part of the Kunsthalle Praha collection. This includes the Marie and Milan Knížák Fluxus Collection, which documents his personal and artistic connections to the international Fluxus network — from Yoko Ono and Allan Kaprow to Shigeko Kubota, Ken Friedman, and Ben Vautier. At the same time, it captures a shift in the understanding of the artwork towards experimentation, intermedia practices, and an emphasis on ideas rather than material objects.

Currently on view in Kunsthalle Praha’s Gallery 3 as part of the exhibition Memory of Touch is also Knížák’s series Destroyed Music (1965–1980). The series of destroyed vinyl records was created as part of Knížák’s musical performances. It later became one of the most significant bodies of his visual work and is now considered an iconic contribution to experimental music and art of the second half of the 20th century.

As a tribute to his memory, we are sharing Knížák’s own commentary on this series, written in Czech, which he sent to us in 2022.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and all those whose lives have been touched by his work.