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Jiri KolarCzech poet, writer and artist
Date of Birth: 24.09.1914
Country:  Czech |
Content:
- Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
- Political Involvement and Imprisonment
- Artistic Career
- Dissent and Exile
- Literary and Artistic Significance
- Later Years and Return to Czechoslovakia
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
Jiří Kolář was a Czech poet, writer, and artist who was born in 1914. He spent much of his early life in the city of Kladno, where he completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter in 1932.
Political Involvement and Imprisonment
In 1945, Kolář joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, but was later expelled. From 1952 to 1953, he was imprisoned for his political beliefs.
Artistic Career
Kolář was a founding member of the "Group 42" association of poets and artists in 1942. He became known for his innovative collages, which blended elements of poetry and visual art. His first solo exhibition was held in 1937. He also participated in the groundbreaking documenta 4 (1968) and documenta 6 (1977) contemporary art exhibitions in Kassel.
Dissent and Exile
In 1977, Kolář signed Charter 77, a manifesto calling for political reform in Czechoslovakia. He left the country shortly after to study in France. Refusing to return, he became a French citizen in 1984.
Literary and Artistic Significance
Kolář's first poetry collection, "Years in Days," was published in 1949. His poetic masterpiece, "Prometheus's Liver" (1979), is a moralistic work that condemns totalitarianism. Kolář also wrote fiction, essays, children's books, and plays. He was an accomplished translator, known for his translations of T.S. Eliot, Walt Whitman, and Edgar Lee Masters.
Later Years and Return to Czechoslovakia
In 1997, Kolář returned to the Czech Republic. He continued to produce artworks and was awarded the Hans-Theo Richter Prize by the Saxon Academy of Arts in 1999. Jiří Kolář passed away in 2002, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential Czech artists and writers of the 20th century.
