Jaroslav Vozniak(1933 – 2005)

Painter, Sculptor, Graphic Artist and Musician

Picture: The Czech Museum of Fine Arts

Highlights• Born April 26, 1933 in the small

village of Sochodol– Outside Pribam, 37mi southwest of

Prague• Died May 12, 2005 in Prague

– Zbraslav, Prague 16• Considered one of the most important

representatives of Czech pop art

Source: Wikipedia

Education• Studied at the Academy or Art,

Architecture and Design (Prague) from 1951 – 1959– Under Karel Svolinsky; a Czech known for his

controversial designs of the astronomical clock at Olmouc, Czech banknotes, and a stained glass window at St. Vitus

• Also at the Academy of Fine Arts (Prague) from 1954 – 1959– Under Vladimir Silovsky; a Bohemian graphic

artist born in 1891

Source: Wikipedia

Young Adulthood• Founded Smidrove with Bedrich

Dlouhy, Jan Koblasa and Karel Nepras– A group formed in the 1950’s by several

Academy of Art students unwilling to conform to the prescribed guidelines, and whose opinions were radically different from the official culture and politics

– The group disbanded in the late 1960’s

Source: Masaryk University

Plastic People of the Universe

• Band formed in 1968, soon after Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia

• Influenced by progressive rock/radical politicos Frank Zappa, Henry Cow, Captain Beefheart and The Velvet Underground

• Helped by their many friends in the Invisible Organization, an artistic support network– 1st Czechslovak President, Vaclav Havel, was a

longtime supporter and sometimes lyricist of the band• Disbanded in 1984 after years of struggle,

incarceration (including a lengthy one for Jaroslav), harassment and violence

Source: Answers.com

Paintings at Prague Manes

1974

Picture: artnet

Frank Zappa, 1988