Capexus: Art Tailored to Your Offices
CAPEXUS is the Czech market leader specializing in the comprehensive design and realization of modern offices and commercial interiors. When designing their own offices in 2022, the architects recognized the need to emphasize the unique genius loci of specific spaces with bespoke artworks. The result of the collaboration with Artist's Hero is a series of four archetype portraits by visual artist Marek Ehrenberger, personifying the specific values and qualities that Capexus embodies.
In one of the meeting rooms used primarily for HR interviews, Sámor's work creates an atmosphere of safety, wisdom, and team spirit.
Experiential working environment
Capexus is fully aware that a modern office environment is much more than just a workspace. It is a place designed to inspire, shape positive experiences, stimulate human interaction, support mental well-being, and communicate the image and culture of the organization itself. In short, it acts on the level of the body – the physical space, the soul – human experiences, and the spirit of the organization – communicating values, themes, and philosophy.
Read more about the initiative in the article on the website Capexus: Art in the office. Examples from CAPEX demonstrate that it pays to have it.
The work Slav adorns the main boardroom. It embodies qualities such as trust, focus, success, and growth.
Why commission custom artwork?
The architects at Capexus had a clear vision of the function that the art element should bring to the offices:
- Personify the space and emphasize the genius loci,
- Stimulate energy and set the atmosphere,
- Communicate selected qualities and values.
With such a specific brief, commissioning custom artwork was the ideal solution. Artist's Hero introduced several academic visual artists of the younger generation, with the fresh, colorful work and easily recognizable style of illustrator Marek Ehrenberger resonating the most.
After several consultations with the Capexus architects, the artist was able to incorporate colors, graphic elements, and symbolism into his works—portraits—that directly or subliminally express specific qualities and values.
Marek Jakúbek, CEO of Artist's Hero, and Marek Ehrenberger, visual artist and illustrator
BIO: Marek Ehrenberger, visual artist and illustrator
The work of Marek Ehrenberger often balances on the boundary between design and fine art. The author leans towards illustration, which he approaches with thoroughly pragmatic yet conceptual thinking, utilizing various methods ranging from classical to digital drawing. In addition, he draws on experiences gained during his studies in Zlín and at UMPRUM in Prague, as well as work internships in Zurich, Barcelona, New York, and elsewhere.
The portraits, created roughly since 2018, are the result of vector drawing on a computer followed by transferring the image using a stencil onto wooden panels. Ehrenberger then paints these with acrylics, creating decorative objects on the border between the digital and analog worlds, characterized by their precise yet vibrant execution.
His work often reflects prominent personalities of today's constantly transforming individualistic society, in which everyone is forced to find their own language, community, and place.
Marek Ehrenberger shares insights into his creative process: "Together with the CAPEX team, we defined the characters, atmosphere, and emotions that the artworks in each room should evoke. I tailored the color palette of the paintings accordingly, which plays a very important role. Each head-shaped piece with its distinct character is painted with acrylics on wooden bio-boards."
Artwork annotation: With her kaleidoscopic glasses, Sámara symbolizes wisdom. She has a talent for insight into the very core of all realities from various perspectives. She sees the world in diverse colors and images—possessing strong empathy. The colored lenses and stars imply the ability to see the future positively, creatively, and to pursue one's dreams. The rising sun over the calm surface on the coast of the Costa Rican village of the same name, Sámara, then symbolizes light that inspires sincerity, wisdom, and a sense of security.
Artwork annotation: Minimalism and sharp curves invite Slava to get assertively straight to the point. Even though a cloud hovers above his eye, which may temporarily obscure the view of the path to his goal, the pink sun rising beside it always shines through the clouds and guides Slava onto the right path. The prevailing turquoise and blue colors communicate certainty, calm, balance, and trust. Blue then characterizes an individual who has found their mission. The colored rays pointing toward the intently gazing eye symbolize the ability to proceed creatively and unwaveringly toward the set goal. The transition from a darker to a lighter, more pink future is also symbolized by the color-rendered contour line of an imaginary mountain on Slava's neck. A mountain – a challenge that Slav – the Slav loves to conquer.
Artwork annotation: The central element of the work Yucca is a color circle. A circle as a definition of space or "flow". A circle as the ability to perceive the cyclical nature of flow—time, nature, life, or even the phases of the day, where intense concentration alternates with relaxation and fun. It is precisely these striking "color balls" that invite a playfulness that is so essential for our proper mental well-being.
Artwork annotation: Astra. The prominently tied and intricately detailed ponytails, resembling brilliant-cut diamonds, symbolise noble qualities—creativity, artistic sensibility, and technical skill. The multitude of lines in the face and hair represents the playful approach with which Astra looks ahead, open to new horizons. The earring, composed of three stylized basic geometric elements—a square, a triangle, and a circle—refers to the spirit of the designer, the architect—simply the personality of the creator.