I grew up in Communist Czechoslovakia after WW II and this informed my life very deeply. I have escaped in 1974 and lived in West Germany and USA since then. Living in an unfree country had its advantages, namely art and human relationships were of utmost importance. That is what made life meaningful and still does. I have been submerged in art of this old culture and studied several others ever since my birth. Why do I write? To explore beauty, peace, healing and new images and concepts. Why do I collage? For some of the same reasons.