foto: Vít Hassan pro PrahaIN.cz/Štěpán Mareš
INTERVIEW: Known for his political and social satire, artist Štěpán Mareš brings a distinctive and often provocative style to his commentary on current events. “What’s happening in Czech politics right now feels like a pretty decent bizarre situation,” he tells us.
How did the past year treat you?
There were many events, making it a exceptionally interesting year from a working perspective for a cartoonist. But you can’t keep painting them over and over again, it would get tedious. I’ve been grappling with all sorts of feelings, and still am. It’s all quite strange. It’s particularly unsettling that the so-called Russian special military operation in Ukraine has been ongoing for four years now. To be clear, I’m not making light of this. I know horrific atrocities are happening there, and tens of thousands of people, including civilians and small children, are dying. It’s terrible. Sometimes I wonder where we’ve ended up, in the 21st century, in 2026. It’s almost unbelievable.
Long-term tensions have impacted nearly every continent. What are your biggest concerns personally?
There’s a lot. I’m shocked, in a negative way, by what the U.S. Does sometimes. I’m a little worried about the current developments given that Europe is also starting to fall behind. I’m waiting to see what happens, and I’m not particularly happy about it.
Looking back at the past year, I was glad to have drawn about eighteen politicians for Praha TV who participated in pre-election debates. That was interesting perform. And I’m happy to be able to draw jokes for PrahaIN.cz. That’s not a cliché, I genuinely appreciate it. It’s not straightforward to do satire or cartoon humor these days. It’s a struggle. I’ve been making a living at it for thirty-five years, and I’m maybe a little tired sometimes. But I still love my work and enjoy it. I think 2025 was a successful year for me.
Psali jsme
Where can people see your work this year? Are you preparing any new exhibitions?
Absolutely. There will be two exhibitions, one in Uherské Hradiště and one in Třebíč, in the Vysočina Region. The band Čechomor has promised to play at both, and they’re long-time friends of mine. We’ve known each other for many years, and I really enjoy collaborating with such great people. When they start playing a song, people are fascinated that they don’t just play chamber music, but sometimes get close to rock or heavy metal, which is unique.
The exhibition in Třebíč will be in the Painted House on Karlovo Square. It’s a beautiful historic building, and I last exhibited there about fifteen years ago. I’m really looking forward to it because that’s where I’m from. I don’t go to the Vysočina Region much anymore, but I have my parents, studio, and roots there.
Are you now a full-time resident of Prague?
Yes, I am. Five years ago, I met a partner from Turnov. She works in Prague, we have an apartment in the capital, and that’s where we live. I’ve been in Prague for over thirty years, but I’ve alternated it with the Vysočina Region. I originally thought I didn’t want to live in the city, but after five years of marriage, I wouldn’t want to go back to the countryside. Not that I’ve become a snobby city dweller, but I’ve gotten used to Prague. I wouldn’t change it today. Because there’s so little time, I don’t go to the Vysočina Region very often. But I regret not seeing my parents more often.
Your friend Ondřej Vetchý is from the same region. He also lives in Prague, but returns to the Vysočina Region quite often…
We’ve known each other for a long time, and I like him a lot. He’s also from Okříšky, where Karel Roden is from. Ondra often remembers him. We’re close. He’s very busy with work, so we don’t often see each other. That sometimes bothers me because we understand each other. But Ondřej is much more famous than I am.
In your paintings and caricatures, you often feature motifs that reflect the current situation in the Czech Republic, Europe, and the world. Do you follow developments as a citizen, Štěpán Mareš? And how do you view some of the moments from the Czech political scene?
I always look for a way to avoid offending anyone too much in discussions, but I refuse to be completely tolerant of everything. When I look at what’s happening in Czech politics now, it seems like a pretty decent bizarre situation to me. I’m happy that President Petr Pavel is in office, as I personally like him. But it’s worse in the presidential office. Some people in Czech politics are simply walking absurdities.
From an artistic point of view, this situation gives me space for various jokes and gags, and I admit I’m glad about that, because tense and unusual situations are a blessing for an artist. For example, Tomio Okamura or Petr Macinka are literally a source of ideas. It was harder with Petr Fiala, because he was a bit of a bore as prime minister. I don’t indicate that badly, but from an artist’s point of view, it’s amazing to watch our politicians. But I don’t have joy from the current situation. It’s bad, let’s be honest.
