Czech artist Miroslav Tichy was born in 1926 in a small town in Moravia, Czech Republic, where he still lives. He is an exceptional phenomenon as a photographer, a character without parallel among “outsiders”. The “monstrosity” of his self-built cameras, with which he manages to commit to the negative images of intensive sensuality and eroticism, is both incredible and fascinating. Miroslav Tichy enjoyed an academic education at the Arts Academy in Brno. Until approximately 1955, he intensively engaged in painting and drawing, maintained lively contacts with other Czech avant-garde painters and took part in exhibitions. He was far from conforming to the model of socialist realism and encountered harsh criticism. At some point in the late 1950s, Tichy’s life changed. The hitherto well-groomed young artist began to neglect his appearance. Within a few months he looked like a hermit. Simultaneously, his artistic work underwent a substantial change as well. He became increasingly interested in photography – an occupation that he continued to pursue up to the mid-80s.  Since the 1950s Tichy has never let his work pass out of his hands. He did not want to sell nor did he care much about exhibitions. Only very recently did he agree to release his work. The Kunsthaus Zurich will stage the first comprehensive museum exhibition (July – September 2005). The enthusiasm of the art world is overwhelming.