From the author´s life
Studying with prof. Otakar Španiel represents an extremely important phase in the preparation and development of J. K.‘s work. The teacher of the European prestige gave him a professional foundation, especially in the creation of medals and plaques. Here he also gained knowledge about the European fine art and through Otakar Španiel he learned the values of the French medal school. In sculptor modeling, we then see the beneficial influence of Charles Despiau and Antoine Bourdell, with whom the professor was in contact. This is where the synthesis of the home and the world was born.
After completing his postgraduate studies (1954), the sculptor returned home. He was offered the position as a pedagogue at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava (1954 - 1989) where he educated many, today already well-known and foremost, artists.
He personally lobbied for and had a decisive role in enforcing the construction of a new building and a set of the Fine Arts Academy studios on Drotárska Street in Bratislava.
Jan Kulich, the sculptor, portraitist, creator of several chamber and monumental works and a leading medalist, worked for many years as a professor and rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava where he won many awards, including the title of the National Artist.
His statues and monuments can be seen in many places in Slovakia: the memorial I Accuse in Dukla, Matica Slovenská in Martin, a sculptural group in Bratislava's Slavín, a statue of Juraj Jánošík in Vrátna dolina, or the memorials to Ľudovít Štúr and the Slovak National Uprising in both, Zvolen and Bratislava, the memorial to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars in Zvolenská Slatina, the monument of Matej Bel in Očová, the monumentl of Martin Kukučín in Jasenová, the statue of Welcoming in front of the National Council Building, the equestrian statue of King Svätopluk at Bratislava Castle and many others.
The permanent exhibition of his work has been installed at Ľupča Castle since 2012.
In his work, J. K. followed the Creative Realism in the world, for which he was often criticized but it turned out that the world recognizes his qualities and can appreciate them. The traditions of folk culture and history, its important personalities but also representatives of social and cultural life of the world importance are lifelong themes for the artist Ján Kulich. He was essentially convinced that everything he had created belonged to Slovakia and through his work proved what a beautiful and spiritually rich this country truly is.
Ján Kulich is one of the world's leading medalists, as evidenced by the awards of the International Federation of Medalists - FIDEM and the interest in his work in Italy, where in 2005 he was awarded the prize of the International Academy Il Convivio, in France, Germany, Russia, Japan and in other countries.
Kulich's sculptural work developed in numerous disciplines and techniques, which underwent numerous modifications in terms of content and expression. His work has matured in all areas of the above-mentioned range. It is a significant contribution to Slovak sculpture of the last century.
Ján Kulich died on March 15th, 2015 in Bratislava
On July 10th, 2015, the Ján Kulich Gallery was opened in his birthplace in Zvolenská Slatina which presents the work of the sculptor to the general public.
The most famous works of Ján Kulich
King Svätopluk
King Svätopluk
Jánošík
Jánošík
Jánošík
Welcoming
Welcoming
Jozef Miloslav Hurban
Jozef Miloslav Hurban
The SNU memorial in Bratislava
After the fight
After the fight
The memorial to Dukla heroes
The memorial to Dukla heroes
Matica slovenská
Matica slovenská
The SNU memorial – Valaška (Shepherd’s Axe)
The SNU memorial – Valaška (Shepherd’s Axe)
The medal for the Ethnographic Festival in Detva
The medal for the Ethnographic Festival in Detva
Works of Ján Kulich in architecture and exterior spaces
The author's work comprises many sculptures, memorials, reliefs and other works that you encounter during your visit to Slovak places. In the map you will find the most important works of J. Kulich which may be located near you. To view the photos of the works in individual places, click on the selected point on the map.
