Oldřich Kulhánek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oldřich Kulhánek
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(Portrait by Jindrich Nosek)
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| Born | 26 February 1940 Prague, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
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| Died | 28 January 2013 (aged 72) Prague, Czech Republic
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| Alma mater | Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague |
| Occupation | Painter, graphic designer, illustrator, stage designer and pedagogue |
| Organization | Association of Czech Graphic Artists Hollar |
| Known for | Designing the current Czech banknotes and postage stamps |
Oldřich Kulhánek (born February 26, 1940 – died January 28, 2013) was a talented artist from the Czech Republic. He was a painter, graphic designer, illustrator, and even designed stages for plays. He is most famous for creating the look of the money used in the Czech Republic today, called Czech banknotes. He also designed many postage stamps.
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About Oldřich Kulhánek
Early Life and Art School
Oldřich Kulhánek was born in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic. In 1958, he began studying art at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. He learned from a famous artist named Karel Svolinský.
Kulhánek finished his studies in 1964. For his graduation project, he created illustrations for poems. These included works by Vladimír Holan and Christian Morgenstern.
Facing Challenges
In 1971, Kulhánek faced a difficult time. The secret police in Czechoslovakia arrested him. They said his art was "dangerous" because it criticized the government at that time.
He had created drawings that showed powerful leaders in a way the government did not like. These artworks were seen as a threat. The police ordered that his art be destroyed.
Kulhánek spent a month in prison. For the next two years, he was questioned often. He was also not allowed to show or publish his artwork.
His Art Around the World
In the 1980s, Kulhánek made many lithographs. These are a type of printmaking. His lithographs often showed the human body as it grew and changed.
After a big change in his country's government, called the Velvet Revolution, he traveled to the United States. He visited a special workshop in Los Angeles to learn more about lithography.
He also often went to Belgium to study the works of old master artists. Kulhánek was a member of a group called the Association of Czech Graphic Artists Hollar.
His amazing artworks can be found in many famous art galleries. These include places like The Library of Congress in Washington, USA, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, France. His art is also in the Albertina in Vienna, Austria, and the Art Institute of Chicago in the USA.
Oldřich Kulhánek passed away suddenly in Prague on January 28, 2013. He was 72 years old.
