Bratislava ZOO 1979—1991 – Peter Bartoš

Neo avant-garde artist Peter Bartoš (born 1938) is a radical figure on the Slovakian art scene. His early conceptual works included several experiments with ephemeral natural materials, such as snow. He created pieces to be absorbed by nature, hence permanently transformed or recycled. Nature and landscape has long been an important source of inspiration for Bartoš. He worked with live animals on several occasions and since the late 1960s, he has been breeding pigeons. His ecological ideas include debreeding, the reintroduction of selected species of now domesticated animals (such as horses, dogs and pigeons) into the wild, and the regeneration of the countryside cultivated by humans. 

From 1979 until 1991 he was employed by the Bratislava Zoological Garden as a conceptual artist where he designed and prepared enclosures and environments in consultation with zoologists. Bartoš approached the concept for the new areas holistically: he dealt with the specific needs of animals in relation to their original Carpathian environment, reflecting the natural contours of the landscape and taking into account the migration routes of birds, wind direction, noise and many other factors.