From our History
Exposition in GJK in the period May 2018 - October 2018
In his work, Ján Kulich, as one of the few in Slovak fine art, created a remarkable structure from the legacy of history in all significant and substantial horizons. He entered these horizons of national history as a trusted expert, with fascination and enthusiasm but also with responsibility.
Detail
EXPOSITION PERIOD
May 2018 - October 2018
NUMBER OF EXHIBITED WORKS
38 sculptures, 28 medals, 21 reliefs
The exhibition was composed of several historical periods, which he elaborated in his work: the period of Great Moravia, the Enlightenment, the revolutionary year of 1848, the origin of Czechoslovak Republic and motives from the time of the Slovak National Uprising and liberation from fascism.
In the late fifties and early sixties of the last century, he presented, as the first sculptor ever, a truly unique motif of Cyril and Methodius: both heralds are sitting on donkeys, one holding a book (a symbol of culture, written word) and the other a sword (a symbol of the code of laws). Kulich returned to the theme of the Thessalonian brothers several more times - in medals, reliefs, but also in a newly conceived modelled sculpture from 1986 called Ex Oriente Lux (Light from the East). From the period of Great Moravia the model of the monument of King Svätopluk was exhibited, as well as medals, reliefs and coin designs. Furthermore, there were also insignia for the town of Zvolen - Belo IV. gives the town of Zvolen the coat of arms in 1244 and finally, the portraits of Štúr and Compatriots together with their female comrade-in-arms Božena Němcová.
In 2018 we also commemorated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the 1st Czechoslovak Republic; the portraits of the two most important representatives of M. R. Štefánik and T. G. Masaryk were exhibited on the competition designs for coins, the competition model for the memorial of M. R. Štefánik and the study of the figural portrait of Andrej Hlinka.
In his work, Ján Kulich devoted himself with great interest to the topic of liberation and the Slovak National Uprising, which he experienced directly as a young boy. He transformed these experiences into plaques, medals, reliefs and memorials. An important place had a monumental work - the group sculpture I Accuse (Žalujem) from the Dukla memorial, reliefs Christmas Agreement (Vianočná dohoda), From our History I. - IV. (Z našej histórie I. – IV.) and the equestrian statue of Marshal Zhukov.
" The range of his creative flair, his oscillation from large, heroic memorial themes to the subtle chamber genre, to medals and plaques, is worthy of extraordinary admiration. However, a deeper analysis would undoubtedly show that even these are marked by monumental vision and feeling."
" Art critics bestow an absolutely exceptional position to his medal work and consider Kulich to be the creator of our modern bas-relief with specifically national emblems."
" In the period of simplified understanding of questions of Realism, voices were raised as to the artist's formalism, and later on epigones and snobs questioned the currentness of his art. But the development of Kulich's work was not disturbed by anything or anyone. It took him a lot of effort not to be disgusted in order to persevere and continue with the chosen program. The passion for the idea, the fidelity to the truth and the understanding of those closest to him also helped overcome these obstacles. "
