Guštar studied computing at Czech Technical University in Prague (1981–86). After completing his studies, he stayed on as a lecturer (1986–92). During the 1990s, he spent several working exchanges at San Jose State University in the United States. Later, he studied information science and applied mathematics at the Technical University of Ostrava (1999–2003), where he received a Ph.D. From 2002 to 2008, he was a research employee at the Czech Academy of Sciences in the field of mathematic modeling and systems simulations.

Although Guštar has been actively involved in music since childhood, his original interest was more theoretical. His current relationship to music is based on a Pythagorean understanding of the world as a manifestation of numeric principles. Guštar is an expert in practically the entire field of low-current electrical equipment and electronics, and has managed to apply his theoretical knowledge in practice by collaborating on the design of audio, video, and audiovisual objects. Since the late 1970s, his work has focused on the design, development, and manufacture of custom-made electronic and electroacoustic equipment and musical instruments, multimedia and interactive systems, software design, audio recording and editing, and consultation services.

Since 1993, Guštar has been engaged in these activities under the company name ARTech. He specializes in working with visual and other artists in the creation of multimedia, interactive, and kinetic works (artists with whom he has collaborated include David Černý, Krištof Kintera, Veronika Bromová, Radim Labuda, Kurt Gebauer, Miloš Vojtěchovský, Floex, Michael Bielicky, Jan Mucska, Federico Diaz, Lukáš Rittstein, Petr Svárovský, Petra Vargová, and Gabriela Jurkovičová). He was also involved in the restoration and renovation of works for the Dawn of Magicians exhibition (National Gallery, Trade Fair Palace, Prague, curator: Jaroslav Anděl, 1996); Zdeněk Pešánek (National Gallery, Trade Fair Palace, Prague, curator: Jiří Zemánek, 21 Nov. 1996 – 16 Feb. 1997); Frank Malina – Point–Line–Universe (Museum Kampa, curator: Vít Havránek, 7 Nov. 2007 – 7 Jan. 2008).

In the area of theory, Guštar is focused on interdisciplinary research in electronics, information science and applied mathematics, modeling and simulations, mathematical principles in music and art, the theory of tone systems, algorithmic compositions, and sonification. Mathematical principles also appear in his compositions and audio and multimedia installations, for which Guštar often applies his theoretical and practical experience of electronics and electroacoustics.

He occasionally lectures at Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts, Film and Television School (FAMU), Music and Dance Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts (HAMU), and Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, among others. His knowledge of the intentional creation and modification of source sounds using electronics is summarized in the two-volume Electrophonics, in which he looks at the prehistory, history, and current state of this field from the viewpoint of organology and electrotechnics. He is also capable of manufacturing the electronic and electromechanical musical instruments and equipment whose construction and functioning are described in his writings. Among others, Guštar has created electronic organs (6 octaves, 5 stops), monophonic synthesizers, programmable electronic drums, MIDI keyboards, a MIDI Timecode Display and a theremin.

Guštar’s books and audio CDs have been released by his own publishing house, Uvnitř (“Inside”).

www.uvnitr.cz