Vlastja Simončič: Seeking the Person
Vladimir Simončič (1911–2000), aka Vlastja, was an internationally recognised master of photography and is considered one of the pioneers of Slovenian reportage, theatre, medical and experimental photography. On this occasion, the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia pays tribute to this tireless photography educator, organiser of photography exhibitions, writer and co-creator of contemporary Slovenian photography with a thematic exhibition of his portrait photography.
Destiny diverted Vlastja from a military career and briefly kept him occupied with the visual design of the post-war newspapers and magazines Tovariš, Slovenski poročevalec, Ljudska pravica, Naša žena, Tedenska tribuna, Ljudska pravica, Borba and others. Vlastja’s portrait photography opus, created during his turbulent journalistic period, depicts important figures in the spheres of political, economic and cultural life, as well as unnamed individuals. Most of the photos were included in published newspaper photo reportage. Vlastja first undertook his photography assignments on foot and then on a company bicycle, until finally the bus lines enabled him to reach more remote parts of Slovenian. His incredible zeal for photo reportage gave no sign of abating until the fateful St Nicholas Day in 1949, when he was arrested by members of the secret police in the editorial office of the newspaper Slovenski poročevalec on charges of treason. He returned to the editorial board six months later, a broken man bearing an apology for his wrongful arrest. Although the scope of his published photo reportage gradually diminished, his enthusiasm for photography did not abate – quite the contrary.
In 1956, he withdrew from the world of journalism and began working as a documentary photographer in the medical field. He continued to push the boundaries of photography when he invented the “starogram”, a technique for drawing on photographic paper. Simončič’s hard work left an indelible mark on Slovenian visual culture and did not go unnoticed. This was confirmed by domestic, but especially foreign awards and recognitions. Vlastja Simončič was one of the leading Slovenian social realist photographers, which is also reflected in the motifs of the photographs in the present exhibition.
Exhibition curator: Katarina Jurjavčič
The exhibition has been prepared in cooperation with the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia.
We recommend using the funicular railway to visit the exhibition.
Children playing in the snow, Ljubljana, 1952. Photo: Vlastja Simončič
Miner in front of a mercury mine, Idrija, 27 February 1951. Photo: Vlastja Simončič
A new form of treating whooping cough with a flight to a high altitude, 30 July 1950. Photo: Vlastja Simončič
Navy sailor, Zagreb, 22 September 1950. Photo: Vlastja Simončič
Pianist Dubravka Tomšič, Ljubljana, 11 December 1950. Photo: Vlastja Simončič
Performance of the jazz group Ronny-Jazz at the Skyscraper, Ljubljana, May 1951. Photo: Vlastja Simončič
