Ľuboš Kotlár, a Slovak artist and winner of the Oskar Čepan Award, shares insights into his evolving artistic journey, moving away from traditional photography to explore site-specific installations. In a recent interview, he reflects on themes of burnout, personal freedom, and the appeal of non-functional spaces in his work. Kotlár emphasizes that his current artistic endeavors do not convey a singular meaning but instead offer avenues for transformation and reinterpretation, fitting within the broader discourse on contemporary art.

Having studied photography at the Slovak University of Art and Design, Kotlár initially immersed himself in commercial photography for several years post-graduation. While this phase of his career provided valuable experience, he reveals that the sense of fulfillment he once derived from photography gradually diminished. The transition to creating installations has become a means for him to reclaim his artistic identity while engaging with the complexities of space and viewer perception.

His current exhibition at the Ján Koniar Gallery as part of the Oskar Čepan Award showcases this shift, as it invites viewers to interact with installations that challenge conventional notions of art. Kotlár perceives potential in what he describes as 'queer failures,' hinting at his interest in exploring underutilized spaces and the stories they carry. His work encourages openness to interpretation, suggesting that art can flourish in the absence of clarity, revealing multiple layers of meaning through the viewer's experience.