Vladimir Franz Composer, artist and candidate for President of the Czech Republic Date of Birth: 25.05.1959 Country: Czech

1. Biography of Vladimir Franz
2. Early Life and Education
3. Career as an Artist
4. Career as an Artist
5. Presidential Campaign
6. Current Life

Biography of Vladimir Franz

Vladimir Franz is a composer, artist, and former candidate for the presidency of the Czech Republic. He ran for president in the 2013 presidential elections but did not receive enough votes in the first round. His campaign targeted the younger generation of Czechs, and his main promise was to legalize marijuana.

Early Life and Education

Vladimir Franz was born on May 25, 1959, in Prague, Czech Republic. He grew up in a family of an electrician and a nurse. After his birth, his mother left her job to focus on raising him. However, it was his grandfather who had the most significant influence on his life. His grandfather, an engineer and artist, played in an orchestra and taught Franz the basics of music theory and art.

While Franz excelled in school, he had difficulty deciding between a career as an artist and composer or pursuing law. Eventually, he chose to study law at Charles University, where he obtained a doctoral degree. However, he was not content with the idea of spending his entire life in dull legal proceedings.

Career as an Artist

Without the necessary diploma, Franz struggled to find work related to art and teaching. He recalls this period of his life with a smile, as each time he managed to secure a job, he felt like he was breaking the law. In the late 1980s, he worked as a teacher and artistic director, hoping to make a positive impact on the issues facing the country's youth.

Franz was one of the founders and later became the director, actor, and playwright of the experimental theater group 'Kytka divadlo' based at Charles University's Faculty of Law. His compositions were highly acclaimed, and he composed music for over 150 plays, some of which he also wrote. Critics praised his work, calling him a true wizard and the heir to the Czech theatrical tradition.

In addition to his career in the theater, Franz released around ten solo albums, which were available for purchase in stores or as free downloads online. He believed that art should be accessible to all and aimed to address contemporary societal issues through his music.

Career as an Artist

Franz's career as an artist developed rapidly. He started drawing at the age of 12 and organized his first exhibition at a small Prague gallery when he was just 18. His paintings often explore the transience of life, the ambivalence of human emotions, and mankind's absurdity and hypocrisy towards nature. He participated in over 50 exhibitions both in the Czech Republic and abroad.

One distinctive feature of Franz is his love for tattoos. More than 90% of his body is covered in tattoos, including his face, eyelids, and lips. He explained his passion for tattoo art by saying, "Art has been known to humanity for centuries and carries aesthetic value. Each person may have their own perception of this value, but a tattoo is a manifestation of an individual's will that does not affect others. It is the highest expression of confidence to make a decision in a moment that will last a lifetime. My tattoos are the result of years of searching, not a whimsical choice."

Presidential Campaign

In 2012, Vladimir Franz made the decision to run for the presidency of the Czech Republic. His campaign targeted the younger generation and creative intelligentsia. Despite some opposition from other candidates, his candidacy received overwhelming support from students across the country. However, in the first round of the election, Franz finished in fifth place, receiving 6.84% of the votes. Nonetheless, 351,916 people believed that Franz was the most suitable candidate for the presidency.

Current Life

Currently, Vladimir Franz resides in Prague, where he continues to compose music and create artwork. He also lectures at various universities and schools around the world. He jokingly admits to loving children but prefers when they reach the age of 5-6 years old, as they can engage in conversations about life rather than just staring at his tattoos.