World Between Us
Marie Tomanová travelled from Mikulov to the USA as an au pair, and today she shoots campaigns for fashion brands such as Nike, Instagram, or for the fashion magazines such as Vogue CS. However, her name is better known abroad than in her native country, which provided few opportunities for her as a young painter. Paradoxically, it was only in New York, far from home, that she was able to grow up and find herself – a transition greatly supported by Marie’s partner in professional and personal life, art historian Thomas Beachdel. Tomanová touches the world in a different way, with a rush of positive emotions, an immediate connection, acting as a medium through which the energy of the portrait-sitter passes. Director Marie Dvořáková, who also relocated to the US, connects to the photographer in the same way. The portrait of the two Maries tells the story of the American dream and the search for roots, identity and home.
“What I’m looking for is a moment of connection. It’s more than the photos.”
About the artist
Marie Dvořáková (b. 1978) was born in Jablonec nad Nisou and, after studying directing at FAMU, she completed a master’s degree at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She currently lives and works in the United States. Her short film Who’s Who in Mycology (2016), which won the prestigious Student Academy Award, opened new doors for her in the film industry. In an interview with Radio Prague International, Marie said: “[Marie Tomanová] struck me as very spontaneous and talented. She reminded me of home. At that time, I had been living in the U.S. for 13 years and spent most of my time with Americans. Suddenly, here was this young woman from the Czech Republic—I could speak Czech again, we became friends, and we really understood each other. So I thought, why not start filming her.”