Adolf Zika
Encyclopedia
Adolf Zika is a Czech photographer.
in 1972. He graduated from the School of Pedagogy
and in 1988 became a member of the Center for Top Sports in Prague
. He gained the title of Junior Champion of the country in judo
, and was awarded a bronze medal in the European Junior Tournament in Vienna
. In 1990, he traveled to Budo University in Katsura
, Japan
, where he underwent training under the best judo fighters in the world. After his return, he abruptly quit his judo career without any official explanation.
In the following years, Zika tried to catch up by learning everything about life which he hadn’t learned from sports. He composed music, toured and organized various unique projects. In 1993, he was the guitarist for the hardcore band Serious Music. He wrote both music and lyrics.
. Following this, the fashion label Pietro Filipi selected him as their central photographer. In the spring of 1997, Zika was able to open his own studio in Prague, began shooting fashion and commercial photography, and his first large commissions started to come in. He began working on catalogs for fashion all over the globe, creating calendars and working on commissions in Australia
, Barbados
, Hawaii
, the Dominican Republic
and many other locations. He worked regularly for Playboy
, where he photographed many of their covers. In 1999, he formed the film and production company ZIPO film. In the fall of the year 2000, he was selected among six photographers of the world to represent the renowned brand Leica at Photokina
in Cologne. He was then placed into the prestigious worldwide calendar of this brand. He is the author of the largest printed project of the year 2000, which involved the cooperation of the best 120 photographers of the Czech Republic and four other countries. The result was the publication The Last Book of the Century, One Day in the Life of the Czech Republic. A year later, Adolf Zika was placed into the book of personalities for Czech commercial and fashion photography.
Since 2001, he has directed over two dozen television commercials, and worked on a feature-length film as a producer, In the same year, he began long-term cooperation with the mobile operator Orange SA. For Orange Slovakia
, he created their entire re-branding campaign in South Africa
. In 2002, he placed among the bestselling Czech authors at Paris Photo
in the Louvre, where he represented the Leica Gallery Prague. He also won a tender to be the photographer for the commercial television station TV Nova, after which he created the photographic concept and creative promotional visuals for all its programs. He worked for the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he prepared the official book for the Czech Republic’s entrance into the EU. In the year 2003, he signed a contract with the publisher Presco Group for an annual calendar of his work to be distributed worldwide.
In June 2004, he was arrested in relation to claims of prostitution at ELI model agency, followed by a three-month detention. After a two-year process, he was cleared of all charges without explanation. In September 2004, his photographs were once more on display at the world exhibition PhotoKina in Cologne, this time in the Olympus
E-system Gallery. His photographs were later displayed at the gallery Black and White Past and Present, organized as part of Interkamera 2006, where there were three classic Czech photographers exhibited (František Drtikol
, Václav Chochola and Josef Sudek
), along with three representatives from the current generation: Jan Saudek
, Robert Vano
and Adolf Zika. In the summer of 2006, with the support of the Hasselblad
and Leica companies, he took photographs for his planned publication „6 Days and 24 Hours of Le Mans“, a non-traditional conception of the most famous automobile race in the world.
In 2007 Adolf Zika directed a full-length documentary film "Jan Saudek - V pekle svých vášní, ráj v nedohlednu", about the world renowned photographer Jan Saudek
.
In 2008, he made a feature length documentary film about the most famous automobile race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, entitled LE MANS PHENOMENON. The film was later included in the Official Selection and screened at the‘Sport Movies & TV 2010 – 28th Milano International FICTS Festival’.
In 2009, ONE YEAR OF MY LIFE in 3285 Pictures by Adolf Zika in Co-operation with Leica was published, a worldwide unique photography project, which illustrates one year of the ordinary as well as extraordinary life of Adolf Zika in nine photographs a day. Based on the main idea of this book, in the same year he founded the web project WEEK OF LIFE, a unique documentary project, which aims to create the largest photo library of humanity.
One year later, he once again sat in the director’s chair and directed the short documentary film Tichá Vášeň (English title – Silent Passion).
Early life
Adolf Zika was born in the then CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in 1972. He graduated from the School of Pedagogy
School of Pedagogy
School of Pedagogy may be:*School of Pedagogy in Khovd*School of Pedagogy in Prague*School of Pedagogy in Şendriceni*School of Pedagogy in Lom, Bulgaria*Philadelphia School of Pedagogy...
and in 1988 became a member of the Center for Top Sports in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. He gained the title of Junior Champion of the country in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, and was awarded a bronze medal in the European Junior Tournament in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In 1990, he traveled to Budo University in Katsura
Katsuura, Chiba
is a city located in southern part of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Katsuura city is famous for Katsuura Fishing Port, which features one of the top three largest morning markets in Japan. As of February 2010, the city has an estimated population of 20,570 and the density of 218 persons per km²...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where he underwent training under the best judo fighters in the world. After his return, he abruptly quit his judo career without any official explanation.
In the following years, Zika tried to catch up by learning everything about life which he hadn’t learned from sports. He composed music, toured and organized various unique projects. In 1993, he was the guitarist for the hardcore band Serious Music. He wrote both music and lyrics.
Career
In 1994, he began with photography and a year later won first place in the most contended category of the Czech Press Photo – sports series. In 1996, he worked for a German travel agency in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. Following this, the fashion label Pietro Filipi selected him as their central photographer. In the spring of 1997, Zika was able to open his own studio in Prague, began shooting fashion and commercial photography, and his first large commissions started to come in. He began working on catalogs for fashion all over the globe, creating calendars and working on commissions in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and many other locations. He worked regularly for Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, where he photographed many of their covers. In 1999, he formed the film and production company ZIPO film. In the fall of the year 2000, he was selected among six photographers of the world to represent the renowned brand Leica at Photokina
Photokina
The photokina is the world's largest trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries. The first photokina was held in Cologne, Germany, in 1950, and it is now held biannually in September at the koelnmesse Trade Fair and Exhibition Centre...
in Cologne. He was then placed into the prestigious worldwide calendar of this brand. He is the author of the largest printed project of the year 2000, which involved the cooperation of the best 120 photographers of the Czech Republic and four other countries. The result was the publication The Last Book of the Century, One Day in the Life of the Czech Republic. A year later, Adolf Zika was placed into the book of personalities for Czech commercial and fashion photography.
Since 2001, he has directed over two dozen television commercials, and worked on a feature-length film as a producer, In the same year, he began long-term cooperation with the mobile operator Orange SA. For Orange Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, he created their entire re-branding campaign in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. In 2002, he placed among the bestselling Czech authors at Paris Photo
Paris Photo
Paris Photo is an international art fair of photography held annually in Paris, France in early November. The first Paris Photo art fair was in 1997. The fair is held in the Carrousel du Louvre, the large underground exhibition space and shopping mall attached to the Louvre museum...
in the Louvre, where he represented the Leica Gallery Prague. He also won a tender to be the photographer for the commercial television station TV Nova, after which he created the photographic concept and creative promotional visuals for all its programs. He worked for the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he prepared the official book for the Czech Republic’s entrance into the EU. In the year 2003, he signed a contract with the publisher Presco Group for an annual calendar of his work to be distributed worldwide.
In June 2004, he was arrested in relation to claims of prostitution at ELI model agency, followed by a three-month detention. After a two-year process, he was cleared of all charges without explanation. In September 2004, his photographs were once more on display at the world exhibition PhotoKina in Cologne, this time in the Olympus
Olympus Corporation
is a Japan-based manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscope and thermometer businesses. Its global headquarters are in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, while its USA operations are based in Center Valley, Pennsylvania,...
E-system Gallery. His photographs were later displayed at the gallery Black and White Past and Present, organized as part of Interkamera 2006, where there were three classic Czech photographers exhibited (František Drtikol
František Drtikol
František Drtikol was a Czech photographer of international renown. He is especially known for his characteristically epic photographs, often nudes and portraits.- Life and work :...
, Václav Chochola and Josef Sudek
Josef Sudek
Josef Sudek was a Czech photographer, best known for his photographs of Prague.Originally a bookbinder. During The First World War he was drafted into Austro-Hungarian Army. In 1915 and served on the Italian Front until he was wounded in the right arm in 1916...
), along with three representatives from the current generation: Jan Saudek
Jan Saudek
Jan Saudek is a Czech art photographer.- Life :Saudek's father was a Jew and the family was therefore persecuted by Germans. Many of his family members died in the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II. Jan and his brother Karel were held in a children's concentration camp located...
, Robert Vano
Robert Vano
Robert Vano is a Slovak photographer currently residing in Prague.-Life and Work:He was born in Nové Zámky, Slovakia, to parents of Hungarian descent...
and Adolf Zika. In the summer of 2006, with the support of the Hasselblad
Hasselblad
Victor Hasselblad AB is a Swedish manufacturer of medium-format cameras and photographic equipment based in Gothenburg, Sweden.The company is best known for the medium-format cameras it has produced since World War II....
and Leica companies, he took photographs for his planned publication „6 Days and 24 Hours of Le Mans“, a non-traditional conception of the most famous automobile race in the world.
In 2007 Adolf Zika directed a full-length documentary film "Jan Saudek - V pekle svých vášní, ráj v nedohlednu", about the world renowned photographer Jan Saudek
Jan Saudek
Jan Saudek is a Czech art photographer.- Life :Saudek's father was a Jew and the family was therefore persecuted by Germans. Many of his family members died in the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II. Jan and his brother Karel were held in a children's concentration camp located...
.
In 2008, he made a feature length documentary film about the most famous automobile race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, entitled LE MANS PHENOMENON. The film was later included in the Official Selection and screened at the‘Sport Movies & TV 2010 – 28th Milano International FICTS Festival’.
In 2009, ONE YEAR OF MY LIFE in 3285 Pictures by Adolf Zika in Co-operation with Leica was published, a worldwide unique photography project, which illustrates one year of the ordinary as well as extraordinary life of Adolf Zika in nine photographs a day. Based on the main idea of this book, in the same year he founded the web project WEEK OF LIFE, a unique documentary project, which aims to create the largest photo library of humanity.
One year later, he once again sat in the director’s chair and directed the short documentary film Tichá Vášeň (English title – Silent Passion).
Photography
Zika’s black-and-white photographs are enlarged using a classic technique, and always shot on a negative—he never touches them up digitally. Not being influenced by modernity, it’s difficult to place a date on the vast majority of Adolf Zika’s photography. This might be the reason he’s a sought-after photographer for personal collections. On his journeys for unique photographs, Adolf Zika has traveled to over 40 different countries all over the world.Books by Adolf Zika
- Cirkus, 1996
- The Last Book of the Century, 2000
- Woman, 2005
- 6 DAYS AND 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 2006
- Luxurious Luminescence, 2006
- ONE YEAR OF MY LIFE, 2009
- In the Shadow of Light, 2010