Zuzana Chalupová
Encyclopedia
Zuzana Chalupová was a naive painter
of Slovak
origin who was born and lived her whole life in Kovačica
, Serbia
. Her colourful naive-style paintings recall children's works and fairy-tale illustrations. The typical themes of her paintings are children, so she was even called "mama Zuzana". Her creative legacy consists of more than a thousand paintings.
] and started painting on canvas. She painted her first oil on canvas painting named Mlaćenje konoplja (Hemp Beating) in 1964. She enjoyed imminent success. She exhibited her paintings in the Museum of Naive Arts in Svetozarevo and in Kovačica
during the "Kovačički oktobar" festival. Her first solo exhibition was in 1968 in Dubrovnik
where all of the paintings were bought off by foreign collectors.
Although she never had children on her own, the most frequent motif on Chalupová's paintings were children. Even adults look like children on her paintings, only difference being the moustache. Her other frequent motifs are winter, Kovačica church and biblical themes.
Chalupová made many paintings for charity purposes. She painted a monumental painting for the International Committee of the Red Cross
depicting children with the members of the Red Cross. In 1978, she made a painting named Zaštitimo spomenike kulture (Let's Protect the Cultural Heritage!) for the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia. The painting depicts Gračanica monastery
, statue of Pobednik
, Serbian Orthodox priests with children in Slovak traditional costumes and God watching all this from the skies. In 1974, Chalupová made a painting for the UNICEF headquarters named Children of the UN, full of symbols. It depicts the Earth, UNICEF headquarters and the Statue of Liberty
surrounded with children and angels with olive branch
es. The same year, her painting Zima (Winter) was printed by UNICEF Christmas card program in 2 million copies.
Many of her paintings are on the permanent display in the Gallery of Naive Art in Kovačica.
Naïve art
Naïve art is a classification of art that is often characterized by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique. While many naïve artists appear, from their works, to have little or no formal art training, this is often not true...
of Slovak
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
origin who was born and lived her whole life in Kovačica
Kovacica
Kovačica is a town and municipality located in the South Banat District of Vojvodina, Serbia. According to 2002 census, the town has a population of 6,764, while Kovačica municipality has 27,890 inhabitants...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. Her colourful naive-style paintings recall children's works and fairy-tale illustrations. The typical themes of her paintings are children, so she was even called "mama Zuzana". Her creative legacy consists of more than a thousand paintings.
Biography
Chalupová finished only five grades of elementary school. In 1950s she began making scarves, shirts and tapestries with traditional motifs. After earning some money from selling tapestries, she bought oil paintOil paint
Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the...
] and started painting on canvas. She painted her first oil on canvas painting named Mlaćenje konoplja (Hemp Beating) in 1964. She enjoyed imminent success. She exhibited her paintings in the Museum of Naive Arts in Svetozarevo and in Kovačica
Kovacica
Kovačica is a town and municipality located in the South Banat District of Vojvodina, Serbia. According to 2002 census, the town has a population of 6,764, while Kovačica municipality has 27,890 inhabitants...
during the "Kovačički oktobar" festival. Her first solo exhibition was in 1968 in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
where all of the paintings were bought off by foreign collectors.
Although she never had children on her own, the most frequent motif on Chalupová's paintings were children. Even adults look like children on her paintings, only difference being the moustache. Her other frequent motifs are winter, Kovačica church and biblical themes.
Chalupová made many paintings for charity purposes. She painted a monumental painting for the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
depicting children with the members of the Red Cross. In 1978, she made a painting named Zaštitimo spomenike kulture (Let's Protect the Cultural Heritage!) for the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia. The painting depicts Gračanica monastery
Gracanica monastery
Gračanica is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in Kosovo. It was founded by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321. Gračanica Monastery was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia, and on 13 July 2006 it was placed on UNESCO's...
, statue of Pobednik
Pobednik
Statue of the Victor or Statue of Victory is a monument in the Kalemegdan fortress in Belgrade, erected on 1928 to commemorate the Kingdom of Serbia's war victories over Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary . It is one of the most famous works of Ivan Meštrović. Name od Statue represent Victory of...
, Serbian Orthodox priests with children in Slovak traditional costumes and God watching all this from the skies. In 1974, Chalupová made a painting for the UNICEF headquarters named Children of the UN, full of symbols. It depicts the Earth, UNICEF headquarters and the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
surrounded with children and angels with olive branch
Olive branch
The olive branch in Western culture, derived from the customs of Ancient Greece, symbolizes peace or victory and was worn by brides.-Ancient Greece and Rome:...
es. The same year, her painting Zima (Winter) was printed by UNICEF Christmas card program in 2 million copies.
Many of her paintings are on the permanent display in the Gallery of Naive Art in Kovačica.
External links
- Slovak Art of Vojvodina: Zuzana Chalupova (1925-2001)
- Babka Gallery: Zuzana Chalupova