AA Adopts: Petr & Jana

AA Adopts: Petr & Jana

Petr & Jana at home, against their Zhuang Hong Yis acquired via Art Again

At Art Again, we’re all about filling more lives with art. Our marketplace exists to give art, otherwise stuck hidden in private collections, renewed meaning by helping it find a home again, or in this case, an office.

In AA Adopts, we feature the art we’ve successfully re-homed, highlight the diversity of buyers from our platform and explore how seamlessly they’ve integrated these artworks into their lives and spaces.

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For our third instalment of AA Adopts, we speak with Petr Raska & Jana Kurucova, a couple new to Singapore who have been buying pieces for their new home. They've acquired five works from our marketplace - Zhuang Hong Yi's Multicolour diptychs [1 & 2], a dynamic piece of Symon's, and three of Kray Chen's works from his Hmm.. What's On The Other Side? series [1, 2, & 3]. In this interview, they share their thoughts on art and its relation to their connection, as well as the approach that guides their collecting practice.

 


Kray Chen, Hmm.. What's On The Other Side? (Series 1 - Praying), 2011 Kray Chen, Hmm.. What's On The Other Side? (Series 1 - Crawling), 2011 Kray Chen, Hmm. What's On The Other Side? (Series 1 - Broken Arms), 2011


Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and your interest in art?


We both come from fast-paced careers in healthcare—Jana works in medical strategy and partnerships, while Petr has led digital transformation for hospitals.

Our professional worlds are structured and highly outcomes-focused, so art is a meaningful contrast. It invites a different rhythm—one of intuition, emotion, and presence. We’ve both always believed that good art doesn’t need explaining. It speaks, and if it speaks to you, that’s all that matters.

What are your top considerations when buying art?


We buy with instinct. If a piece lingers in our mind, if it moves us or feels unforgettable, that’s usually our sign. Texture, depth, and emotion are important to us—but more than anything, we want to live with art that has soul. We don’t follow trends; we follow what resonates.

Symon, Untitled, 2003, Photographed in their home

Can you tell us about your home? Do you curate your artworks?


We recently moved to Singapore from Europe and have been curating our new space slowly and intentionally. Every piece in our home reflects a moment or feeling, and we place each one with care. It’s less about matching a space and more about building a narrative. Our home is becoming a collection of stories—each artwork a chapter.


What drew you to the artwork you acquired from us?

We discovered the artworks through Art Again’s website and were struck immediately. The diptychs by Zhuang Hong Yi captivated us with their texture and depth—they’re serene, meditative, and change with the light in a way that makes them feel alive. They offer quiet strength and elegance. On the other hand, the work by Symon is unapologetically bold. It has a kind of pop-art defiance and personality that completely contrasts the diptychs, yet somehow fits perfectly in our home. It’s vibrant, humorous, and impossible to ignore. We loved the tension and harmony between the two artists’ styles—and that both artworks had a previous life. That’s what drew us in: the chance to give something beautiful another life, and to make it part of our own.



Kray Chen's Hmm.. What's On The Other Side? sculptures in their home.

What is it like having them at home?


They’ve transformed our space in ways we didn’t expect. The textured works invite reflection and peace; they shift throughout the day and somehow always feel new. The pop-art inspired piece is bold and full of character—it sparks conversation and radiates energy. Together, they balance each other beautifully. The best part has been how seamlessly they’ve settled in—these pieces now feel like part of the home, and part of us.

What other artworks were you eyeing on our marketplace?


We’re drawn to works that experiment with light, form, or material—especially those that feel like they have depth both visually and emotionally. We don’t collect quickly, but when something feels right, we act.

Do you agree on what art to get, and how do your tastes differ?

Surprisingly, we align very quickly. When something clicks, we both feel it. We may notice different aspects—Petr is drawn to movement and atmosphere, while Jana gravitates toward boldness and complexity—but our instincts lead us to shared choices. If we both feel something, that’s when we know it belongs with us.


Zhuang Hong Yi, Pink to Purple, Undated

Why is art important to you?


Because it gives something back every time you look at it. In a world where so much is fast, functional, and fleeting, art is still. It grounds you. It invites emotion, reflection, and curiosity. Especially as we start a new chapter in a new country, surrounding ourselves with meaningful, expressive pieces helps us feel more connected—to each other, to the space, and to the moment we’re in.

What stood out to you most about the experience of buying/browsing art through Art Again?


We first discovered the pieces on your website, and they resonated immediately. But what really deepened the experience was seeing the works in person—it confirmed everything we had felt. The texture, the energy, the presence of each piece came alive. Art Again’s mission—to give art a second life—is something we strongly believe in, and seeing the artworks up close made it feel even more personal and meaningful. It wasn’t just a transaction; it felt like a moment of connection.

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To get started with buying art, read our buyer’s guide.

Alternatively you may write to us at sales@artagain.co — art should feel personal and accessible, we’re here to make that happen.

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