In the miner’s house on Štúrová street (in the birthplace of academician Plander) during the Kremnické gags from August 25-27 (from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) a joint exhibition of cartoon humor by Ľubomír Juhás from Košice and photographs by Jaroslav Slašťan from Kremnica will take place.
On this occasion, the city of Kremnica published an interview about the exhibition, which we share with you:
How did the idea of holding the first exhibition in a house where events of this kind had not been held before? (This house became known to the residents of Kremnica about a year ago, when they unveiled a memorial plaque to Academic artist Ivan Plander. ) What can visitors to the exhibition look forward to?
My good friend, from Kremnica and university teacher Ingrid Turisová (born Ondrejová) put me in touch with the owner of the mining house, Alexandra Říhová. When I spotted the attic gallery in the beautifully restored miner’s house, I didn’t need much persuasion.
Visitors to the exhibition will surely laugh at the original style and kind humor of Ľubomír Juhás. In his work, he does not avoid sensitive topics in the field of forestry or nature protection. As for my photos, I was choosing memories. Each photo has its own story that I experienced in a certain period of my life with people I like.
How did the collaboration between the caricaturist and the photographer come about, which led to a joint exhibition?
I really like Ľubo Juhás’s cartoon humor, it is kind but effective. And it doesn’t offend. That’s why I asked him for cooperation. Although it might seem that we are standing on different shores, he as a forester and I as a conservationist, we also want to show with this project that we can understand each other, talk and laugh – often even at ourselves. Don’t take yourself too seriously. The ability to laugh is based on a basic premise – to be able to laugh at yourself.
Photographing a bear is apparently not easy. How were your photos created?
Most of my exhibited photos of bears were created by chance when I discovered a bear during my stay in nature. I did not photograph any of them at the feeding area, they are not bears attracted by food in front of the camera lens. And that makes the photos even more valuable, behind each one there is a different story.
From your point of view, what does it mean to replace fear with respect?
Today we are witnessing a disproportionate panic about bears. Many media do not respect reality, look at the horror headlines of articles that can describe even an ordinary encounter with a bear in a creepy way. The solution to the problems with bears is the cooperation of various experts, subjects, associations and institutions. We have to start talking professionally about where the problems are and how to eliminate them. And we must learn not only to talk, but also to listen. In the Intervention Team for brown bears, we are interested in solving the bear problem and will do everything to ensure not only the protection of the bear as a protected animal, but also the minimization of the damage caused by the bear and, of course, the safety of the residents.
The Environment Department and state conservationists are strengthening cooperation with local governments, defence and interior departments. We offer a helping hand to various subjects, persons, institutions, organizations and clubs. We educate, provide advice and work on a project to raise awareness about the life of the bear, which should ensure that true information about the life of our largest animal reaches the public. People have the right to know how to behave in order to minimize the risks that living with bears brings.
About the authors:
Ľubomír Juhás (1965)
Forester and cartoonist – graduate of the Faculty of Forestry in Zvolen (1987), professionally engaged in forestry since 1988. Once a cartoonist: His first drawing was published in 1981 in the humorous magazine Roháč, and between 1987 and 1996 he published regularly in Slovak and Czech periodicals. During this period, he introduced himself to the public through his three author exhibitions, in Rožňava in 1190, a year later in Košice and in Spišská Nová Ves in 1995. He is the recipient of several awards, he won 1 prize in 1989 (Novomestský osteň – Slovakia) and also in 1994 in two places, in Beringen, Belgium, and at the humor and satire festival Kremnické Gags. He won the second prize in 1996 from Architecture cartoon art. Caricaturist today: After a long break, in 2018 he started working with the magazines Bumerang and Les & Letokruhy. In 2020, he was awarded three honorary degrees in China, Iran and Germany. In 2023, he was awarded the Golden Barrel – Slovakia – Grand Prix. His illustrations embellish several books and calendars with forestry, hunting and tourist themes.
Jaroslav Slašťan (1980)
Photographer, columnist and popularizer of zoology and nature conservation. Graduate of two dozen educational programs, courses and trainings focused on the issue of large animals and nature conservation. Initiator, coordinator and expert manager of projects focused on zoological and ecological topics. He was and is a member of several editorial boards, working groups, commissions and scientific societies. He made his debut in the field of photography with the author’s exhibition Klenoty Kremnice (2011), he also presented the beauty of nature at other exhibitions: Poznám také miesta (2014) and Holding the Light (2015). In 2021, he received a special award from the Council for Science, Education and Culture at KBS Fra Angelica. His photographs embellish several educational trails, publications and calendars with botanical and zoological themes.
