Principles of Universalism in the Artistic Work of Štěpán Rak (On the Occasion of his 80th Birth Anniversary)

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyse the main directions of activity of the outstanding Czech guitarist of Ukrainian origin Štěpán Rak (Czech Republic) through the lens of the principles of creative universalism. His diverse compositional legacy, long-term performance experience, and teaching practice not only closely interact but have also shaped the artist’s unique authorial phenomenon in contemporary guitar art. The article is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Š. Rak’s birth. The main methodological approaches used in this research include historical, axiological, phenomenological, musicological, and cultural studies approaches, as well as methods of synthesis, analysis, and comparison. The scientific novelty lies in the introduction of the synergistic manifestations of the artist’s work into the field of Ukrainian art studies. Conclusions. The universalism of Štěpán Rak is manifested in his synergistic activity as a composer, performer, teacher, editor of early music, photographer, scriptwriter, and even music therapist. This multidimensional approach renders his creativity universally meaningful and accessible to various types of audiences. Creative universalism refers to the artist’s ability to encompass a wide range of artistic forms, genres, themes, and means of expression, without limiting oneself to a single specialization or style. This approach implies a deep integration of different kinds of art (music, literature, theatre, visual art), cultural contexts, and the combination of aesthetic, spiritual, and social meanings. Its main manifestations include the multi-genre and multi-format nature of his compositional work; interdisciplinarity – the interaction of composition, performance, and pedagogy; and intercultural integration – shaping a holistic musical art with universal resonance. The artist’s universalism involves deep social, spiritual, and philosophical meanings, as well as the ability to communicate with different audiences and remain comprehensible in the global artistic space.