Thomas Penc
Sculpture-Dimensional Studies
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Artist Statement
I was born and raised in former Czechoslovakia. Having had the experience of living in a totalitarian regime, I see aspects of its grip resurfacing again in the present world, but on a global scale. The apprehension of the possible things to come is reflected in my artwork as it addresses deeper political and existential topics, ridiculous scientific advances, irrational situations, logical inconsistencies and paradoxes of our memory. I am an observer who collects and reflects on these absurdities, I stand in for the individual human and often highlight it with humor.
My artwork draws from a variety of materials from plastics, artificial and natural substances, found objects to electronics and other technology, such as 3D printing and computer graphics. All of this helps me illustrate how intellectually complicated we have become on one hand yet remain driven by irrational urges and subconscious impulses.
The approach to my work is open-ended and idea driven, resulting in a free-forming collection of artefacts from an alternative world, a subjective perception of a distorted landscape, which serves to remind us to take ourselves - from the overall point of existence - way less seriously.
![Photograph of a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc titled You Brought Something Into The World That Does Not Belong Here.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_001-660x440.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // You Brought Something Into The World That Does Not Belong Here // exhibition view
![Photograph of audience at the opening night of a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc titled You Brought Something Into The World That Does Not Belong Here.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_002-660x440.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // You Brought Something Into The World That Does Not Belong Here // mild steel, aluminum, LEDs, found objects // dimensions approximately 8 x 8 x 4 feet // installation view
![Photograph from a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc featuring detail of his light sculpture titled You Brought Something Into The World That Does Not Belong.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_003-660x989.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // You Brought Something Into The World That Does Not Belong Here // mild steel, aluminum, LEDs, found objects // dimensions approximately 8 x 8 x 4 feet // detail
![Photograph from a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc featuring a close-up view of his light sculpture titled You Brought Something Into The World That Does Not Belong.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_004-660x989.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // You Brought Something Into The World That Does Not Belong Here // mild steel, aluminum, LEDs, found objects // dimensions approximately 8 x 8 x 4 feet // close-up
![Photograph from a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc featuring an installation view of his kinetic sculpture titled (Perpetual) Death of Lucretia.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_005-660x989.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // (Perpetual) Death of Lucretia // mild steel, electronics & Arduino, inflatables, spray paint // dimensions approximately 8 x 8 x 4 feet // installation view
![Photograph from a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc featuring an installation view of his kinetic sculptures Night is a Day That Fell Short and (Perpetual) Death of Lucretia.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_006-660x989.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // Night is a Day That Fell Short and (Perpetual) Death of Lucretia // mild steel, aluminum, electronics, glycerin, PVC, black food dye, 3D prints and mild steel, electronics & Arduino, inflatables, spray paint // dimensions approximately 10 x 20 x 4 feet and 8 x 8 x 4 feet // installation view
![Photograph from a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc featuring a close-up view of his kinetic sculpture titled Night is a Day That Fell Short.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_007-660x989.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // Night is a Day That Fell Short // mild steel, aluminum, electronics, glycerin, PVC, black food dye, 3D // dimensions approximately 10 x 20 x 4 feet // close-up
![Photograph from a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc featuring a close-up view of his kinetic sculpture titled Hedonic Cupids.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_008-660x989.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // Hedonic Cupids // 3D prints, electronics & Arduino, feathers, resin, spray paint, silicone rubber // dimensions approximately 4 x 6 x 2 feet // close-up
![Photograph from a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc featuring a detail view of his kinetic sculpture titled Hedonic Cupids through a scope.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_009-660x440.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // Hedonic Cupids // 3D prints, electronics & Arduino, feathers, resin, spray paint, silicone rubber // dimensions approximately 4 x 6 x 2 feet // detail
![Image from a Thesis Exhibition by a 2023 MFA graduate Tomáš Penc featuring a 3D computer render from his installation titled A Hundred Step Pilgrimage.](_images/penc_tomas_2023_0010-660x989.jpg)
Tomáš Penc // A Hundred Step Pilgrimage // Installation with Turner gallery staircase and computer generated projection // loop, duration 1:30 minutes // still from a 3D animation