From the "Something Unspeakable", (Edinburgh), 1970 - tallet

Photographer Vladimír Birgus (b. 1954) has long been a prominent figure in the Czech and European photography scene, where he plays various roles, ranging from photographer and columnist to historian and teacher. A number of high-profile projects are associated with his name, notably the comprehensive exhibitions and books *Czech Photographic Avant-garde, 1918–1948* and *Czech Photography of the 20th Century*, which have helped promote the works of many Czech photographers internationally. He has also helped bring recognition to the works of František Drtikol, Jaroslav Rössler, and Eugen Wiškovský. As a photographer, he has gained an international reputation. Since the late 1970s, he has systematically expanded his series of photographs titled *Something Unspeakable*, in which he organically combines elements of socially conscious documentary photography with a subjective perspective. His photographs are enriched with numerous visual metaphors and symbols, whose psychological and emotional meanings are underscored by the symbolic use of color photography. His photographs depict existential and dramatic scenes from the streets of major European cities, set against the backdrop of everyday life and the slow passage of history.