Václav Stratil – I'm History

In a unique fashion, the book I'm History presents and comments on a selection from seven photographic cycles by the Czech performer, photographer, musician and painter Václav Stratil (b. 1950). The central theme is the study of identity-alterity. Most of the photographs, from 1991 to the present, were taken in public photography studies. They are distinguished by the constant transformation of the artist’s identity through playful investigation or confrontation.

The book was designed by Jiří Skála (b. 1976), an artist of the younger generation. It offers an interesting development of the theme, rather than summarising and setting it in an historical context. The book includes a short overview of Stratil’s work; an essay by the philosopher Karel Thein on the subject of identity, image and the history of photographic documentation of the face; and lists of the artist’s exhibitions and catalogues.