The exhibition features one of his first and most representative sets of illustrations. They were at the beginning, specifically those which picked the Golden Apple at BIB ´99. Four years later this success brought a great opportunity to work on one of the most epic and abundantly illustrated books in the history of Slovak illustration: Veľká kniha slovenských rozprávok (The Big Book of Slovak Fairy Tales) by Ľubomír Feldek. Uchnár illustrated Dobšinský’s fairy tales retold in contemporary language in equally juicy artistic language, for which he won the Award of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (for the Most Beautiful Book of Slovakia in 2003 and entry in the 2006 IBBY Honor List (MACAU, China). It was published for the first time in 2003 by the Reader’s Digest Výber publishing house in Slovak and Czech versions. The second abridged edition was published in Slovenia. The next edition, entitled Truhlica najkrajších rozprávok (The Treasure Chest of the Most Beautiful Fairy Tales) was published in Slovakia in 2016, once again in Slovak and Czech versions. It featured five more Slovak fairy tales with illustrations and a new cover. The fourth edition, published last year and complemented by new illustrations and a new cover (Slovart, 2020) with the original title Veľká kniha slovenských rozprávok (The Big Book of Slovak Fairy Tales) symbolically closes the seventeen year arch of its successful path. The exhibition also features two digital collages of his illustrations on canvass.
Peter Uchnár’s illustrations can be found in more than fifty books. His work with Slovak fairy tales are surely jewels in the showcase of the Slovak book illustrations; however, his illustrations of Peter Pan, Žember’s poetry, the Bible, Shakespeare and last but not least Werich’s Deoduši are their older brothers, the flag bearers of his imagination and fantasy.
Juraj Žembera
Peter Uchnár (Sobrance, 1970) studied at the Studio of Free Printmaking and Illustration under prof. Dušan Kállay at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (1992 – 1999). This painter, graphic artist, illustrator and postal stamp designer sailed to success on Gulliver’s ship at the end of his studies by winning the BIB´99 Golden Apple. Since then, he has been feted for his work in book illustration at home and abroad. Among others, he is a four-time winner the Award of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (for the Most Beautiful Book of Slovakia). He received the Golden Feather in Beograd in 1999, the Ľudovít Fulla award in 2005, the BIB Children’s Jury Award (twice) and entry in the 2006 IBBY Honor List. He was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010 and 2016, and in 2011 he received the Award of the Albatros Publishing House.
