Adriena Pekárová
The connection between craft and artistic imagination is a specific characteristic of art smith and sculptor Ján Kondač, positively influencing his creations. He studied art smith at the Secondary Industrial and Artistic school, then gained experience in processing metal at the studios of renowned sculptors; he improved his artistic skills and at the same time tried out his own creations in metal. From 1979 to 1985 he worked for ÚĽUV (The Centre for Folk Art Production) as a producer of a small series of plated sculptures. In 1985 (a little later than his contemporaries) he started studying sculpture at the University of Fine Arts in Bratislava. At the beginning of the 90’s he took the opportunity to reconstruct historical bars and create replicas, but at the same time he also implemented his own designs for the historical architecture of the town. While with historical architecture J. Kondač is a humble follower of the traditions of the old masters, with his own work for contemporary architecture – usually in private villas – he uses his own artistic designs. He cannot hide his sculptor’s senses. However, in his free sculptor’s creation he uses traditional forms and technologies combined with experiments without restriction but with plenty of pleasure. He also uses his knowledge from restorer’s work and the newest technologies using chemicals.