Moments of Silence – Book Review

Miroslav Hlinka, a versatile creative encompassing the roles of artist, graphic designer, and photographer, specializes in capturing landscapes, urban corners, abandoned places, and ancient cemeteries.
If you’re familiar with his extraordinary portfolio, it’s likely because he stands out as one of the leading contributors to the Fuji X Passion project. Feel free to explore and revisit his remarkable work on our website.

www.miroslavhlinka.cz
www.facebook.com/hlinkamiroslav
www.momentyticha.cz/en

We have always admired Miroslav for his persistence and dedication to long-term projects. Since we got to know his work, we realized that he never lets chance determine his work, but rather planning, dedication, and tireless persistence in returning to the same places over and over again to record the same subjects with his camera, but with another light or weather conditions.

His photographs are characterized by a contrasting, deep black and white, with particular emphasis on textures and contrasts.

His style is distinctively characterized by his profound black-and-white photographs, which emphasize textures and contrasts. And when we found out Miroslav Hlinka intended to publish his project Moments of Silence in a book, we anticipated something remarkable. However, upon opening the book for the first time, we were astounded by the sheer amount of effort and dedication evident within its pages.

From a present-day perspective, ossuaries may appear peculiar, mysterious, and even somewhat macabre. However, in the past, death was an integral aspect of people’s everyday existence. From a practical and religious standpoint, the creation of ossuaries arose out of the necessity to make room in cemeteries for the recently departed. Initially serving as repositories for exhumed bones, ossuaries evolved into genuine artistic expressions.

“Even though ossuaries have long since ceased to be a part of our daily lives, they remain silent witnesses of our past. They represent the transiency of time. Many of them have succumbed to it, and only a small number have been preserved. That is why I decided to capture them through photographs.

Each ossuary I have visited has its own unique atmosphere. Each one is special in some way. Yet, they all have something in common: They tell stories without words. Silence. I believe these moments of silence will also breathe unto you via the photographs.”

In the creation of this book, Miroslav carefully selected twenty ossuaries, each meticulously documented across nearly 300 pages.

The hardcover edition of this book exudes quality in every aspect. From the selection of thick, high-quality paper to the impeccable printing, it upholds the excellence befitting Miroslav Hlinka’s work.

The meticulous attention to detail is remarkable, extending even to the inclusion of these graphic elements scattered throughout the book.

For additional details regarding this project or to make a purchase of the book, please visit: www.momentyticha.cz/en/