Founding the group
In 1960 Oldřich Lajsek was the leading figure in founding an art group called the Group of Eight Artists, renamed Směr (Direction) in 1962. He led the group from the very beginning.
The group's aims
The group mainly organised art education events outside the established cultural centres, above all in villages and small towns, and looked for new ways to stage exhibitions. Through the group his work also gained a social dimension.
Context
The group was founded when Lajsek had already been teaching for five years at the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Prague (from 1955) and was a member of the Union of Czechoslovak Artists (from 1954). Art education had accompanied him since his studies at the Faculty of Education of Charles University.
The 1960s were a time of relaxation in which Lajsek was among the pioneers of abstract painting.