We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tony Dočekal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tony below.

Tony, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Working as a photographer and storyteller for the Sheltersuit Foundation meant going out solo in various cities and learning about their unhoused population. I wouldn’t call myself a daredevil, but let’s say I sometimes ventured into situations that, in hindsight, might’ve been a little dicey. But those experiences taught me about navigating the unknown and handling discomfort.

I was in Seattle last winter to distribute shelterbags, helping folks stay warm while sleeping outside. It involved visiting shelters, and non-profits, and meeting remarkable individuals making a difference in their neighborhoods. Conversing with people with lived experiences on the streets and those offering support taught me a ton. It wasn’t always picturesque; at times, it was even a bit nerve-wracking, but it also revealed the kindness of people.

There’s this one night that sticks with me. My colleague had already left town, and I had one last shelterbag left. It was getting late and I decided to drop it off at the men’s night shelter I visited earlier that week. On my way there, at a crosswalk, a man approached me, appearing a bit unsettled, juggling a glass bottle and talking about glass raining down if he dropped it. I kept my cool and asked if he was sleeping outside. Turns out, he needed a sleeping bag. When I mentioned I had a waterproof one in my car and offered to get it, it was like a switch flipped. He went from being a bit aggressive to genuinely interested in our conversation. We ended up chatting for a while, and he even wrote me a poem.

Experiences like these, although they may seem risky or intense, taught me about trust, compassion, and the intuitive connection we can forge with strangers. These moments have influenced my approach to photography and my interactions with people, shaping both my art and personal life.

Risk-taking is part of how I create too. Shooting on film has its challenges, but I like the connection it lets me build with my subjects.

I enjoy the creative process most when there’s room for surprise, and I like to mix things up and keep learning as I go. During my upcoming exhibition, I will – for the first time – present a short film I made specifically for the gallery space. I love experimenting with new ways of presenting work as it grows in the exhibition space and book form.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Tony Dočekal, a Dutch photographer and visual artist. Right now, I’m preparing for my upcoming solo exhibition, ‘The Living Road’, showing a selection of my analog photography and a new video work influenced by my solo travels through Arizona, and my non-profit work working with people experiencing homelessness.

‘The Living Road’ symbolizes a search for self-discovery in today’s crazy world. There are so many demands to keep up with what seems to be the norm. Through photography and video art, this exhibition invites viewers to rethink what society tells us about ‘home’, and how that plays a role in our life views. What it means to “belong” in our fast-paced lives. For me, it’s about forming connections and recognizing the common threads in our individual journeys.

I have worked as a photographer after studying fine arts, with clients ranging from non-profits (humanitarian work) to fashion in Paris, and portraits of artists and musicians. The first big commission I did fresh out of art school was an amazing opportunity to shoot for a photo book about innovative education in 6 schools around the world. Whenever I travel for a project, I always go out to shoot personal work in my spare moments. This allowed me to create a body of work that I’ve been building in the background.

Earlier this year I was awarded a cultural encouragement prize from my local municipality, which allowed me to realize this show. ‘The Living Road’ is on show this December at Art Gallery O-68 in the Netherlands from December 1-10.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal for the last few years has been to create a photo book, and I’m excited to share that I’ve recently signed with a great publisher that I’ve looked up to for quite some time! I love how books are their own objects, and are a unique way of storytelling. I’ve always loved sequencing and experimenting with how images relate to each other, to text, and context. I’m interested in the part where fantasy meets reality. I started traveling in Arizona as an outsider, with this fantasy based on my parents’ time living here while pregnant with me. Their photos and stories shaped my imagination, together with representations from movies, music, and books. Over time and with new friendships formed, this fantasy began to collide with the actual reality I am experiencing.

I’m really into the process of editing, creating a narrative, and witnessing the – sometimes unexpected – evolution that unfolds while creating a dummy. This creative journey of taking small steps, discovering new angles, and redefining the story are essential parts of bringing the book to life. The plan is to launch the book mid 2024 in a limited edition of 500 copies. It’s important to me the result is a high-quality piece, while still being accessible and affordable. I’m super happy that I’ve found a publisher that supports this and couldn’t be more excited to share more about the project soon!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A bike accident a year ago left me with a face painted in all shades. It was a turning point. Concussion recovery slowed my pace, challenging my independence and confidence.

It became a wake-up call about the value of time and energy. I took the leap, quitting my day job to fully pursue photography and fulfill my dream of publishing a book. Surprisingly, by making myself more available, I attracted new, exciting clients I’d always dreamed of.

This incident reminded me that energy and time are finite. To those who supported me through this phase, you fueled my healing, restored my confidence, and helped shape my next chapter.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tonydocekal.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonydocekal/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-docekal/

Image Credits
© Tony Dočekal