A portrait of womanhood in the Soviet Bloc

Agony and ecstasy — Dana Kyndrová’s portraits chronicle the highs and lows of life in former Czechoslovakia, from Communist rule to the Velvet revolution.

Women have been the subject of artwork since its first recorded existence. From the “Venus of Willendorf”, dating back to 24,000 BC, to Boticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles D’Avignon”, the female form has been an inspiration to famed artists throughout history.

Unfortunately, given that the majority of these artists have been men, much of these shifting renderings speak only to the surface level; to physical, rather than emotional womanhood. This deficit in experiential representation makes the work of female artists like Dana Kyndrová all the more substantive. The Czech artist has been photographing women for almost half a century, filling the gap between external and internal understandings of femininity. 

Her lauded series Women Between Inhaling and Exhaling chronicles female life in former Czechoslovakia beginning in the 1970s, and after, during the uncertain transition from Communist rule to a post-Socialist nation. The sizeable collection is separated into seven pillars: adolescence, maternity, fun, work, eroticism, faith and old age. The moments between women’s first and last breaths – shown in photographs of Kyndrová’s own grandmother kissing her husband on his deathbed, a teenager in the passionate throes of a first kiss, and the agony and ecstasy of birth – are captured with intimacy and candour. 

The push and pull between the individual and collective in the series is also a political one. Photographs of women in Western countries are sprinkled throughout the series, intentionally blurring the distinction between life on either side of the Iron Curtain. Her message – that the bonds of femininity and sisterhood transgress borders and ideologies – was a subversive one, particularly when the ruling ideology was rooted in maintaining divides. The divine, interconnected feminine she captures makes the role of place and political parties feel, in comparison, insignificant. 

Though Westerners mistakenly envision the Soviet Bloc as a monoculture, Czechoslovakia had its own unique tale of resistance, attempted reform and eventually, peaceful overthrow during its 40 years under the thumb of the USSR. “I focused on the zeitgeist that arose after the Prague Spring,” says Kyndrová. “There was a certain amount of resignation within the atmosphere.”

Coming of age during a reactionary period between the Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution made Kyndrová’s creative undertakings dangerous. The photographer played the role of an innocent young girl and amateur photographer to avoid suspicion from the Party and secret police, who did their best to limit artistic freedoms. “In the 1970s and 1980s, I was detained by the secret police multiple times,” she remembers. “Several times they opened my camera with exposed 35 mm film and damaged it. I was even interrogated.”

It comes as no surprise that the root of Kyndrová’s Women series and photographic practice is her own maternal connection. “My mother was one of my major influences in life,” says Kyndrová. It was her mother, a photographer herself and later an editor at a photography magazine, who introduced her to the work of Miloň Novotný: her key aesthetic influence. 

“If the time was different, I would have studied journalism, but in the totalitarian regime, it would mean baring all of the connected risks.” By avoiding a career as a “professional”, she managed to document a reality that was her own, not one shaped by overarching powers. In the journalistic spirit, Kyndrová resolved to never stage her photographs, which blend a documentary style with cinematic drama. Today her images have an aura of timelessness, conveying scenes and situations that shape the female experience today, just as they did 50 years prior and likely, in the 50 years to come. 

See more of Dana Kyndrová’s work on her official website.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


You might like

Colourful collage of album covers and record sleeves on display in a gallery or museum setting, with glass panels on either side reflecting the vibrant arrangement.
Culture

Largest-Ever Display of UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Opens at Tate Modern

Grief Made Visible — Comprising hundreds of panels made by lovers, friends and chosen family, the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt returns in full for the first time since 1994 – a testament to grief, friendship and the ongoing fight against HIV stigma.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Rustic footbridge across a river, with people crossing it on a sunny day. Warm tones and shadows suggest an outdoor, natural setting.
Sport

In Medellín’s alleys and side streets, football’s founding spirit shines

Street Spirit — Granted two weeks of unfettered access, photographer Tom Ringsby captures the warmth and DIY essence of the Colombian city’s grassroots street football scene.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Diverse group of people with various expressions and styles, surrounded by bold text and graphics in dark colours.
Culture

Remembering New York’s ’90s gay scene via its vibrant nightclub flyers

Getting In — After coming out in his 20s, David Kennerley became a fixture on the city’s queer scene, while pocketing invites that he picked up along the way. His latest book dives into his rich archive.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Black and white image of several people in suits, some with long hair and unconventional appearances, alongside a large ship or boat model. Text overlaid: "FREAKS AND FINANCES".
Culture

On Alexander Skarsgård’s trousers, The Rehearsal, and the importance of weirdos

Freaks and Finances — In the May edition of our monthly culture newsletter, columnist Emma Garland reflects on the Swedish actor’s Cannes look, Nathan Fielder’s wild ambition, and Jafaican.

Written by: Emma Garland

Bright red-haired person shouting into microphone, surrounded by smoke and colourful lights.
Music

Riot grrrl is back. Do we need it more than ever?

Femme punk forever — With social media driving renewed interest in the early ’90s movement, which blended feminist politics with brash punk music, we spoke to vanguards of the genre’s new wave, who are reviving its ethos as women’s rights come increasingly under attack.

Written by: Kurt Suchman

Huck 79

We are all Mia Khalifa

How humour, therapy and community help Huck's latest cover star control her narrative.

Written by: Alya Mooro

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.