The artist’s starting point is classic figural statuary. This platform has been, however, transformed thanks to material, measuring and thematic shifts. The artist works mainly with a figural „type“ and not with concrete shapes or individuality. Her figures are characterised by their clothing and their stances (but still those of statue type). There is no individual expression present here, no one defined basis of feeling or singular gesture. The character is displayed on the basis of generality that emphasises the chosen measure of the moment and reduction of movement. Concrete features are limited by possibilities for processing non-traditional material – polystyrene. This material eliminates details and personal approach to textural qualities. The figures are non-personal, general, as if frozen in definite poses. This freezing in stone plays out however in synthetic material. It is thus a version of classicism enabled by modern industry and technology. This pose is also not traditional in the sense of marked gestures recalling emotional or thought trends. This is a rather mundane approach, as if cut out from commercial ad pictures. The significant size of the figures indicates the burden that paradoxically is missing here. Ms. Bornová leaves the surface of the material in its natural white state or covers it with paint or other materials (fish scales, etc.).
The material however is at least partially accepted and conspicuously display in the viewer’s gaze. The artist’s works are most noticeable by their absence of detail. They are an alternative to the course of modern culture, a course that is obsessively self-absorbed in diverse details, cuts and exaggerations that appear in the broad field between utilitarian, popular and artistic representations. The artist, by reducing the close-up view, returns to pre-modern strategies, mainly those classicising character (as indicated by the meaning of white colour). The marked volume of the figures, contemplation of mass, and super-individual traits help make this strategy effective. Meanwhile the story takes place in the realm of fantasy, desire and dream. The artificial world and dream join together here in oneness, commenting on the nature of consumer culture.

1983-1988 Academy of Fine Arts Prague
1979-1983 SOŠV Praha

Residencies:
2002 - Mikulov arts symposiem, Workshop, Mikulov
2004 - Sculptural studio Bubec, Prague

Selected exhibitions:
2008 „I Will do Everything“, Via Art Gallery, Prague
2006 „Landscape and People“, Gallery of Art, Karlovy Vary
2004 „Heaven on Earth-Sleep in Peace“, Via Art Gallery, Prague
2003 Linea Pura Gallery, Prague
2003 Czech Cultural Center, Berlin, Germany
2001 Emil Filla Gallery, Ustí nad Labem
2001 Gallery At the White Unicorn, Klatovy
2000 „Under the Cover“, MXM Gallery, Prague (together with Ivana Lomová)
1999 Vaclav Spala Gallery, Prague
1998 Planá Gallery, Planá near Marianske Lazne
1997 Jester Gallery, Ceska Trebova
1995 Moravska Trebova Museum
1995 Albin Up Gallery, Oslo, Norway
1993 Radost Gallery, Prague
1993 MXM Gallery, Prague (together with Tomas Cisarovsky)
1991 Gallery of Young Artist, Prague
1990 Cultural Center of Blatiny, Prague (together with Katerina Stenclova)
1989 Exhibition Hall of the Semafor Theater, Prague

Výběr výstav:
2010 „Formats of Transformation 89-09“, MUSA Museum Auf Abruf, Wien
2009 „Behind the Velvet Curtain“, American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, D.C.
2009 „Formats of transformation 89-09“, The Brno House of Arts, Brno
2008 „Muzzles,Bills,Proboscis“, Califia Gallery, Chateau of Horažďovice
2008 „Grenzenfresser“, Kulturfabrik Helfenberg, Austria
2006 „Sigmund Freud: Life-Dream“, City Gallery, Prague
2004 „Certain traces“, POST Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2004 „Certain traces“, Karlín, Prague
2002 „Sexaulog“, Antwerpen, Belgium, Toscany Palace, Prague
2002 „Insideout“, Bunker, Actions Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2002 Czech Cultural Center, Berlin, Germany
2002 „Two Ends of the Century“, House at the Black Madonna, Prague
2001 „Sexaulog“Gallery of Austrian Parlament, Vienna, Austria
2001 „Melancholy“, Moravian Gallery, Brno
1999 Hommage a Franz Kafka, Augsburg, Germany, Dancing House, Prague
1999 „Girls Show“, MXM Gallery, Prague
1998 „Misplaced Contract“, Faust House, Prague
1996 „Winking Game“, MXM Gallery, Prague
1996 „Real Love“, Velryba Gallery, Prague
1996 Richter Villa, Prague
1994 „Maulkorb“, Gallery of J. Fragner, Prague
1992 Arts from Central Europe, Grado, Italy
1991 Ch.Weinmann Gallery, Paris, France
1990 Studios, Fronta Gallery, Prague Les artistes a la Bastille, France

Ceiling of the Sparkys House of Toys, Prague

Center for Modern and Contamporary Arts of the National Gallery in Prague, Mikolas Ales Gallery of Southern Bohemia-Hluboka nad Vltavou, private collections in the Czech Republic and abroad

Marta Smolíková: Erika Bornová - Paintings and Sculptures:
truxart.com/finearts/bornova/index.htm