Illustrator and graphic artist Miroslav Cipár died – Denník N

Miroslav Cipár, an academic painter, graphic artist, illustrator and artist, died at the age of 86. His son Vladimír informed about it. He was one of the founders of the Public Against Violence movement and actors in the Gentle Revolution.

Miroslav Cipár was born in Vysoká nad Kysucou. He is considered one of the most versatile Slovak artists. Cipár won a number of domestic and foreign awards for his illustrative work.

His portfolio consists of paintings, sculptures, graphics, he also created many well-known logos, including the first logo of the SME Diary in 1993, which changed according to the date of issue – SME on Monday, SME on Tuesday…

In 2015, Denník N in the series Art in Newspapers illustrated the entire issue with his works.

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Miroslav Cipár: Nothing can stop us

He studied with Vincent Hložník

His father Štefan Cipár was the only one of twenty people to survive a mass execution due to chance, on April 20, 1945, when the retreating Nazis liquidated the entire group of locals (this is the famous Semetes tragedy). Democratic parents were also under pressure after the communist regime.

After graduating from the Žilina grammar school, Miroslav Cipár studied Slovak language and art education at the University of Education in Bratislava with Professor Eugen Lehotský in 1953-1955.

He continued his education in the years 1955-1961 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, specifically in the department of graphics with Professor Vincent Hložník and in the department of monumental painting with Professor Petr Matejka.

He gained erudition and experience in 1971-1972 in New Delhi, India, at the Children’s Book Institute. In 1985, he led a workshop for illustrators in Sri Lanka. In 1987, he received a scholarship to the United States.

Cipár was involved in the birth and implementation of several cultural projects, such as the Bratislava Biennial of Illustrations (BIB) and the Triennial of Insit Art.

He started a VPN

Miroslav Cipár also played an important role in November 1989, when he was one of the founders of the Public Against Violence (VPN) movement and actors in the Gentle Revolution.

Cipár’s work was intertwined with free painting, drawing, calligraphy, graphics, as well as sculpture and medal making. His activities also extended to the field of advertising and poster production, animated film and scenography.

He became known to the general public mainly as an excellent illustrator, awarded many important awards. The name of Miroslav Cipár has been known to generations of children thanks to his timeless illustrations – we can mention, for example, the Heroic Notebook by Klára Jarunková.

He was also the creator of brands and logotypes. He has created more than 200 of them for various institutions.

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Signs and symbols rule the world, not words and laws, said Miroslav Cipár, in whom everything changed into a picture

“I paint almost daily. When I’m not in the studio, I’m nervous, grumpy, uneasy. But when I work and I can do it, when I know what I’m going to do, I’m kind, I’m giving away and I’m fine in the world, “said Miroslav Cipár about his work.

Illustrator of the most beautiful books

For his illustrative work, he received the Young Award of the Young Years publishing house and honorable mentions and awards from the Most Beautiful Book competition.

In 1977, he won the European Prize at the University of Padua, the BIB Gold Medal and the IBA Bronze Medal in Leipzig for illustrations to Mária Ďuríková’s book The Golden Gate.

For illustrations to the books of this author Biela kňažná and Dunajská královná he received Plaques BIB ’73 and BIB ’77. Miroslav Válek’s book The Great Travel Fever was awarded a gold medal at the IBA Leipzig in 1982 with his illustrations.

Since 1979, Miroslav Cipár has been the winner of the Ľudovít Full Award. In 2001, he became the holder of the Ľudovít Štúr I. Class Council. He was considered one of the most versatile Slovak artists. (tasr, n)