Jan Burka
Encyclopedia
Jan Burka was a Czech painter, graphic artist and sculptor.
and was sent to Terezín
on 10th August 1942. In Terezín he was once again reunited with Petr Kien and even in the difficult conditions in the ghetto continued to study drawing. In Terezín, he lived to see liberation. He also met here his future wife, renowned figure skater Ellen Burka
, née Danby, who was raised in the Netherlands.
After World War II, Danby and Burka settled in Amsterdam
, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts
(Rijksakademie beeldende van Kunsten) under Lütke
and Westerman
. From 1945-1951 he worked as a graphic artist in Amsterdam.
In 1951 he moved to Toronto
in Canada
, where he studied at the Ontario College of Art & Design
. There he was linked to Henri Chopin
. He also founded his own graphic arts studio and together with Alain Fleming was a co-founder of a Canadian group of designers. From 1961-1968, he settled in France, where he made his first reliefs and sculptures. In 1968 he went back to Toronto, where he lived and worked until 1978. Most of these works are now located in Canadian museums.
Burka attended more than a hundred exhibitions in Europe, Canada and the United States. His works are exhibited in a number of Canadian, American and European museums and are part of important private collections. In 1968 he received the Ontario price Centenaire du Canada. Burka also won numerous awards for his graphic work and his "Concrete poetry"), part of an anthology of experimental poetry, published in 1967. In his old age, he became somewhat difficult and manipulative.
Biography
Born on 14 une 1924 in Postoloprty as the younger son in an intermarriage, in 1940 he studied at a private art school and then attended a course in graphics at the Vinohrady Synagogue, led by Petr Kien. After some time in Prague he was deported as GeltungsjudeGeltungsjude
Geltungsjude was the term for persons that were considered Jews by the first supplementary decree to the Nuremberg Laws from November 14, 1935. The term wasn't used officially, but was coined because the persons were considered Jews rather than exactly belonging to any of the categories of the...
and was sent to Terezín
Terezín
Terezín is the name of a former military fortress and adjacent walled garrison town in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic.-Early history:...
on 10th August 1942. In Terezín he was once again reunited with Petr Kien and even in the difficult conditions in the ghetto continued to study drawing. In Terezín, he lived to see liberation. He also met here his future wife, renowned figure skater Ellen Burka
Ellen Burka
Ellen Burka, CM is a Dutch former figure skater and a Canadian figure skating coach. She was the coach for Toller Cranston, Karen Magnussen, and her daughter Petra Burka....
, née Danby, who was raised in the Netherlands.
After World War II, Danby and Burka settled in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts
Rijksakademie
The Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten is a two-year residency for visual artists, based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Funded by the Dutch government, residents are granted a stipend and are allotted a personal studio in the former military barracks building in which the Rijksakademie is housed...
(Rijksakademie beeldende van Kunsten) under Lütke
Lutke
Lutke is a Serbian britpop/power pop band from Belgrade.- 1980s :The band was formed in 1987 by high-school friends Nenad Jovanović , Dejan Radovanović , Zlatko Šetvić and Zoran Aković...
and Westerman
Westerman
Westerman is a surname and may refer to:* Alex Westerman Game Producer* Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman , Lakota musician, songwriter, and actor* John F. C. Westerman , English children's books author...
. From 1945-1951 he worked as a graphic artist in Amsterdam.
In 1951 he moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he studied at the Ontario College of Art & Design
Ontario College of Art & Design
OCAD University is Canada's largest and oldest educational institution for art and design. It is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on McCaul Street beside the Art Gallery of Ontario...
. There he was linked to Henri Chopin
Henri Chopin
Henri Chopin was an avant-garde poet and musician.-Life:Henri Chopin was a French practitioner of concrete and sound poet, well-known throughout the second half of the 20th century...
. He also founded his own graphic arts studio and together with Alain Fleming was a co-founder of a Canadian group of designers. From 1961-1968, he settled in France, where he made his first reliefs and sculptures. In 1968 he went back to Toronto, where he lived and worked until 1978. Most of these works are now located in Canadian museums.
Burka attended more than a hundred exhibitions in Europe, Canada and the United States. His works are exhibited in a number of Canadian, American and European museums and are part of important private collections. In 1968 he received the Ontario price Centenaire du Canada. Burka also won numerous awards for his graphic work and his "Concrete poetry"), part of an anthology of experimental poetry, published in 1967. In his old age, he became somewhat difficult and manipulative.