Janez Boljka

Janez Boljka (born June 21, 1931 in Subotica ; died August 20, 2013 in Ljubljana ) was a Slovenian sculptor , medalist , painter and graphic artist . For Slovenia, he created the coins of the Slovenian tolar in circulation from 1991 to 2006 , based on designs by Miljenko Licul and Zvone Kosovelj, as well as the Slovenian euro coins issued since 2007 based on designs by Miljenko and Maja Licul.

life and work

5 Cent, "Sower" by Ivan Grohar (since 2007)

50 Cent, Mount Triglav and the Constellation of Cancer (since 2007)

Janez Boljka, born in Subotica, moved with his family to Ljubljana after the Second World War . There he studied art and design at the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Ljubljana until he graduated in 1956. In 1959 he completed postgraduate studies with the sculptor Karl Putrih and in 1961 with the graphic artist Riku Debenjak . After traveling extensively in Europe and overseas, Boljka lived and worked in Ljubljana. Most of his works for public spaces are also located there. Janez Boljka was a nephew of the Slovenian painter Miha Maleš .

Boljka was especially known for his works made from scrap steel and old weapons. In addition, he created sculptures by visual artists and animal sculptures such as the buffalo at the entrance to the Ljubljana Zoo. Later figural works were made of bronze. In old age Boljka turned more to painting. Many of Boljk's works are shown in the gallery in the Kostanjevica Monastery in Kostanjevica na Krki , a few are in the arboretum of the Volčji Potok Castle near Kamnik .

As a medalist, Boljka produced the coins of the Slovenian tolar , which had been issued since independence , based on designs by graphic designers Miljenko Licul and Zvone Kosovelj. The face of the Slovenian euro coins , based on designs by Miljenko and Maja Licul, were also modeled by Boljka.

Works (selection)

Working in public space

• Memorial to the victims of the National Liberation War at the Central Cemetery Žale (1965, architect Fedja Košir)
• Memorial to those who fell in World War I on Dvorni trg square (1980, architect Nikolaj Bežek)
• Bust of Rihard Jakopič in front of the Jakopič Gallery
• Alojz Gradnik's relief on Župančičeva Street
• Relief by Jožef Petkovšek on the Jožef Petkovšek dam
• Buffalo in front of the entrance to the Ljubljana Zoo (bronze)

Coins

• Nine coins of the Slovenian tolar , they show animals of the Slovenian fauna (1991 to 2006)
• Face of the eight Slovenian euro coins , with symbols of Slovenian history and culture (since 2007)

• Coins after designs by Miljenko and Maja Licul
• 

  1 cent, stork

• 

  2 cents, Fürstenstein

• 

  10 cents, draft for a parliament building by Jože Plečnik

• 

  20 cents, two Lipizzaners

• 

  1 euro, Primož Trubar

• 

  2 euros, France Prešeren

Exhibitions

Boljka had a number of solo exhibitions in Slovenia, Yugoslavia, all of Europe and the USA. His last exhibition during his lifetime took place in May and June 2012 at the Prešeren Prize Gallery in Kranj . His graphic work has been exhibited worldwide with other graphics from the Ljubljana School.

Awards

• Prešeren Foundation Prize, for his achievements in graphic design (1966)
• Prešeren Prize , for his life's work (1988).

Web links

• Janez Boljka , website of the Slovenian museums, with numerous pictures of his work (Slovenian)
• Poslovil se je kipar in slikar Janez Boljka. Slovo ene ključnih figur slovenskega slikarstva , website of Radiotelevizija Slovenija , with pictures and video (Slovenian)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Janez Boljka , website of the Slovenian museums, accessed on December 30, 2018.
2. ↑ Poslovil se depending Kipar in slikar Janez Boljka. Slovo ene ključnih figure slovenskega slikarstva. Radiotelevizija Slovenija , August 21, 2013, accessed December 30, 2018 (Slovenian). 
3. ↑ Marko Šiška: Twenty years of national currency , website of the Government Communication Office, January 2012, accessed on December 30, 2018 (Slovenian).