Slovak Artist Ľuboš Kotlár Wins Oskar Čepan Prize, Shifts from Photography to Spatial Installations

Slovak artist Ľuboš Kotlár has received the Oskar Čepan Prize, Slovakia's prestigious contemporary art award, marking a significant recognition of his artistic evolution from photography to site-specific installations. The artist explained in an interview that photography no longer fulfills him creatively, prompting his transition to working with spatial experiences rather than traditional images. Kotlár's current exhibition at the Ján Koniarek Gallery demonstrates his new approach, focusing on transforming non-functional spaces and finding potential in failed or abandoned environments. His installations deliberately avoid offering clear meanings, instead creating possibilities for transformation and allowing viewers to experience art through spatial interaction rather than visual consumption.