This photograph is from On Death and Horses and Other People, an ongoing series begun in 1999 on the Winter Carnival in Roztoky, a small town on outskirts of Prague, Czech Republic. The ancient ritual stretching over several hundred years was interrupted in the 20th century by two world wars and by 50 years of communism. In 1997 a group of artists in Roztoky calling themselves ROZTOC revived the tradition. What started as a small celebration of a few friends is now a large winter festival, attended by neighbouring villagers and carnival groups from the Czech Republic and other European countries.
Markéta Luskačová (b. 1944, Prague) has a degree in the sociology of culture, Charles University (1967). She has often worked in series, the best known of which are dedicated to Slovakian pilgrims, mountain village Sumiac, London street markets, street musicians and children. She has been based in London since 1975.
This artwork featured as part of the Touchstone programme (2012-2020). Each display consisted of a single photographic work on the Eranda studio floor where visitors were invited to respond to the question 'What do you see?' using the cards and pencils provided. A bench was placed in front of the work, encouraging people to spend a little longer than they might usually. The programme was part of a wider series of projects and activities related to visual literacy.
A selection of audience responses to the question 'What do you see?'
