Plečnik Year 2022
With his exceptional work, Plečnik left a mark on not only on the architectural landscape of Slovenia and the capital of Ljubljana, but also Vienna, Prague and Belgrade. In the process of transforming Ljubljana into Slovenia’s capital, he integrated the natural, architectural, historical and intangible qualities of the space into a series of public spaces (squares, parks, streets, promenades and bridges) and public buildings (a library, churches, markets and a cemetery complex), which now invite residents and visitors to reflect and participate in dialogue.
His religious buildings, memorial architecture and urban planning have enriched the Slovenian landscape all the way from Prekmurje (Bogojina, Grad), the Štajerska, Koroška (Črna na Koroškem) and Gorenjska (Kamnik, Kranj) regions, to Posočje (Ponikve, Srpenica) and the Vipava Valley. He used the local materials thoughtfully, combining them with new ones.
Plečnik’s works gained international recognition with their presentation at the exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in 1986 (curated by architect Boris Podrecca), which was followed by numerous exhibitions, books and publications of articles in professional journals. His comprehensive approach to design of buildings and public spaces tailored to people remains an important inspiration for contemporary architectural production.
Since 1956 UNESCO participates in the commemorations of historical events and anniversaries of birth of eminent personalities. These events are celebrated by Member States, while cooperation with UNESCO gives them a global significance. This helps the public around the world becomes better acquainted with personalities, works or events that have made an important contribution to the mutual enrichment of cultures, fostered understanding and peace among nations, and forged closer relationships between peoples.
Slovenia is joining the initiative by proposing the 150th anniversary of birth of the architect Jože Plečnik and the 250th anniversary of construction of the Idrija Klavže water barriers. This year, the commemorative logos of cooperation with UNESCO will mark numerous events related to the heritage of mercury mining in Idrija and the works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana. Together with Almadén, Idrija is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its inscription on the World Heritage List, and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has declared 2022 as Plečnik Year.
Events
Plečnik's Ljubljana in Old Photographs
After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ljubljana became part of the new state of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During the short-lived kingdom, Ljubljana enjoyed one of its most important and prolific architectural peaks. With his numerous interventions, architect Jože Plečnik (1872–1957) transformed the city into a symbolic national capital. Plečnik rejected modernist approaches and rebuild the city following his own vision.
The golden age of Plečnik’s architecture
On the 150th anniversary of the birth of architect Dr. Jože Plečnik, the Slovene Ethnographic Museum is putting on display a selection of photographs of his architectural masterpieces realised in Slovenia. This involves material produced by three exceptional photographers, contemporaries of Plečnik, which today forms part of the museum's documentation collection.
Plečnik's monuments to the National Liberation Struggle
The architect Jože Plečnik devoted part of his creative oeuvre to the design of monuments, the most numerous among them being commemoration plaques and monuments to the fallen in World War II. His work on them began on the initiative of Ferdo Kozak, the minister of culture at the time.
Rock, Paper, Scissors. Architectural heritage in graphics
After five years, the Plečnik House and the DobraVaga Gallery are combining forces once again. The exhibition, opening in mid-May 2022 at the Plečnik House, will be a new opportunity for young artists.
Seen-Unseen. A Contemporary Tribute to Plečnik's Oeuvre
The jubilee year at the Plečnik House will also be marked by two internationally renowned authors; Olaf Nicolai, a world-acclaimed German artist and professor, and Luca Lo Pinto, Artistic Director of Rome’s MACRO - Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome.
Plečnik 150 Years
The central exhibition dedicated to the Slovenian master of architecture will shed light on Plečnik’s architectural oeuvre and unveil numerous innovative ideas and techniques, which this multifaceted artist used in his diverse fields of creative work.
Plečnik’s School in Ljubljana
The Plečnik Year 2022 exhibition cycle at the Plečnik House will conclude with an exhibition that offers an insight into the work, methods and curricula of Plečnik's School in Ljubljana.
Logo marking the occasion
At the initiative of the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana and the Plečnik House, designer Bojan Lazarević, who is also the author of the graphic design of the Plečnik House, has made the celebration of the Year of Jože Plečnik visually distinctive. He designed a multi-layered logo of the jubilee year, which we, in cooperation with all the stakeholders, made available to those preparing programmes dedicated to Plečnik and his architecture in 2022.
Additional information: plecnikovo.leto.mk@gov.si.