Ekslibris: "Ljubljana svetovna prestolnica knjige"

Kaj je to ekslibris? Ekslibris je lastniški znak v knjigi, izdelan v grafični tehniki, ki vsebuje napis ekslibris, lastnikovo ime in pogosto tudi umetniški motiv.
Navadno je kot samostojen listič nalepljen na notranjo stran sprednjih platnic. V funkciji lastniškega znaka knjig v knjižnicah ga danes zamenjuje žig.
Pravi ekslibris pa je veliko več kot le navadna etiketa. Pravi ekslibrisi so umetelno, včasih celo že filigransko izdelani, torej prave umetnine v umetnini. Poleg tega morajo vsebovati tudi sporočilnost. Tone Kralj je Kristini Brenkovi narisal ekslibris, na katerem se otroci pulijo za njene knjige. Torej lahko zaključimo, da gre za dobro pisateljico.

»Ekslibrisi poleg lastništva sporočajo življenjsko vodilo lastnika knjige, njegovo filozofsko usmerjenost, posebna zanimanja in nagnjenja, skratka nosijo posebno simbolno sporočilo o lastniku, lahko tudi slikovno ponazarjajo njegovo ime. Lahko so resni ali šaljivi, nastajali so tudi ekslibrisi za posebna področja. Najprej so se v vlogi ekslibrisa pojavljali večinoma ročni vpisi (vrisi) v knjige, sledili so jim heraldični (grbovni) ekslibrisi, tipografski (napisni) ter od 19. st. dalje moderni grafični ekslibrisi.«
Eno od najbogatejših zbirk ekslibrisov v Sloveniji, ki je pripadala Bogu Komelju, hrani Knjižnica Mirana Jarca v Novem mestu. Zbirka šteje nad 3300 drobnih lističev, med katerimi prevladujejo tuji avtorji, zastopani pa so tudi številni znani slovenski umetniki, med njimi: Miha Maleš, Božidar Jakac, Jože Plečnik, Vladimir Lamut, France Slana, Marijan Tršar, Bara Remec, Elo Justin itd.

V letu 2010 naziv "svetovna prestolnica knjige" nosi Ljubljana, zato smo se v okviru Društva likovnih umetnikov Ljubljana skupaj s Festivalom Ljubljana odločili pripraviti razstavo, ki na različnih ravneh povezuje knjigo in likovno umetnost.
Ob javnem razpisu društva so bili pozvani članice in člani, da prispevajo ekslibrise na temo »Ljubljana svetovna prestolnica knjige«, vsa prispela dela bodo predstavljena v Galeriji »S« na Ljubljanskem gradu.
Na razpis se je prijavilo 15 umetnic in umetnikov različnih generacij, ki so na svojski način z različnimi tehničnimi in vsebinskimi pristopi ekslibrisom vtisnili pravi umetniški pečat in tako združili knjižno in vizualno umetnost.

Andreja Brulc, ki je samostojna grafična oblikovalka in ilustratorka, je tudi tokrat povezala kombinacijo ilustracije, fotografije in tipografije s tradicionalnimi tehnikami grafike. Njeni ekslibrisi so izpovedni in polni različnih oblik in figur, ki nosijo simbolna sporočila.
Andreja Čeligoj je predstavnica mlade generacije oblikovalcev in ilustratorjev. S tehniko kolaža in risbe je ekslibrisom dodala likovno in simbolno bogato sporočilo.
Edi Berk je slovenski grafični oblikovalec. Na ljubljanski Fakulteti za arhitekturo je diplomiral leta 1980. Njegovo področje je oblikovanje vidnih sporočil, kar se kaže tudi v njegovih ekslibrisih, kjer je smiselno združena tipografija črk s simbolnimi znamenji, kjer avtor povezuje dva ključna elementa vizualne in knjižne umetnosti.
Berko, slikar in grafik, je ekslibrisu na svojski način vdahnil urbani barvni utrip mesta Ljubljane s kombinacijo fotografije in digitalne grafike.
Bojan Klančar je kot grafik v svojih ekslibrisih združil naravo, črke in simbol mesta Ljubljane.
Slikarka in grafičarka Milena Gregorčič skozi lastno simboliko povezuje plemenite umetnosti kot je književnost in slikarstvo.
Miran Kreš, slikar mlajše generacije, s svojimi izčiščenimi abstraktnimi ploskvami ekslibrisov v grafični tehniki, upodablja samostojne celote.
Nataša Ribič Štefanec je prodorna slikarka, ki vedno znova zanimivo in drzno aktualizira idejno odprtost svojih umetnostnih pogledov. Tokratno zanimanje avtorice je usmerjeno v raziskovanje tematike simbolov, ki so povezani z mestom Ljubljano in knjigo.
Slikar Žarko Vrezec je prispeval ekslibrise, ki nadgrajujejo njegovo slikarsko razmišljanje o abstrahiranemu slikovnemu polju, kot nosilcu avtonomnega likovnega organizma z lastnim življenjem in notranjo logiko.
Nataša Šušteršič Plotajs je oblikovalka vizualnih komunikacij. Za likovno podobo ekslibrisa je uporabila grafično stilizacijo simbola mesta Ljubljane, ki na izvirno likoven način ponazarja temo razstave.
Nejč Slapar je uporabil linearne, geometrijske grafične linije, ki jih je smiselno povezal s tematiko.
Akademski slikar Janez Knez Mišo, ki deluje tudi kot grafik in kipar, je v tehniki kolaža in grafike z bogatimi barvnimi ploskvami oblikoval abstraktno podobo zmaja kot neposredno navezavo na mesto Ljubljana kot letošnjo prestolnico knjige.
Jakimovska Rodič Svetlana tako kot v svojem slikarstvu tudi v ekslibrisih eksperimentira s pristopi in motivi.
Nina Zelenko je v svojih ekslibrisih pričarala lirično nežni rajski vrt ljubljanskega gradu. Tudi tokrat nas avtorica popelje v pravljičnost bogatega rastlinskega sveta, kjer se prepletata likovni in simbolni svet.
Dušan Muc je znan kot ilustrator mnogih otroških in mladinskih slikanic.
Njegov likovni svet je pripoved bogatih slikovnih zgodb, filigransko izdelanih vzorcev, ki jih avtor črpa iz lastnega domišljijsko ustvarjalnega sveta.

Vseh petnajst avtoric in avtorjev je z različnimi umetniškimi pristopi povezalo sporočilnost ekslibrisov z bogato likovno izraznostjo.
Vseskozi se prepletajo niti med knjigo in podobo, ki preko abstraktnih, geometričnih in simbolnih znakov združujejo dva umetniška svetova.

Jadranka Ljubičič

Ex-Libris: “Ljubljana World Book Capital”

What is an ex-libris? It is the mark of possession of books, produced in an original graphic technique. It usually consists of the ex-libris caption, the owner’s name and often a design.
It is a bookplate pasted on the inside of the book cover. In library books its function has nowadays been replaced by a rubber stamp.
A true ex-libris presents much more, than just a simple label. It is a small printed work of art often made with filigree precision. In a word, it is a piece of art in another artwork. An ex-libris must convey a message too. Tone Kralj designed an ex-libris for the author Kristina Brenk depicting children having a row over her books, thus showing she was a good writer.

“Besides the book’s ownership the ex-libris also conveys the owner’s beliefs, philosophical orientation or various interests and inclinations. They carry a unique symbolic message about the owner of the book, often incorporating the owner’s name etc. Ex-libris can be serious or humorous, sometimes designed for special fields of interest. Originally they were hand painted inscriptions (drawings) in books, followed by Heraldic (coats of arms) plates and typographical labels. The modern ones using graphic techniques first appeared in the 19th century.” *
One of the richest collections of ex-libris in Slovenia, once belonging to Bogo Komelj, is now kept in The Miran Jarc Library in Novo Mesto. It consists of over 3300 plates created mainly by foreign artists. Of course many Slovene artists are represented as well, among others: Miha Maleš, Božidar Jakac, Jože Plečnik, Vladimir Lamut, France Slana, Marjan Tršar, Bara Remec, Elo Justin etc.

In 2010 Ljubljana assumes the title of “World Book Capital”. Therefore the Ljubljana Fine Artists Society and Festival Ljubljana have decided to mount an exhibition which links books and fine arts.

The Ljubljana Fine Artists Society issued a public invitation to member artists to participate with their ex-libris designs made for this occasion. All the works will be presented in the Gallery “S” in Ljubljana Castle.
Fifteen artists of varying ages answered the invitation. Each of them in her or his unique way have created deeply personal designs using a wide variety of technical approaches and contrasting subject matter and by doing so have united literary and visual art.

*Summarized from the introduction of the collection; Ex-libris, The Lovely Small Graphics from Books

Andreja Brulc, a free-lance graphic designer and illustrator has combined illustration, photography and typography with traditional graphic techniques. Her striking ex-libris are filled with figures and forms conveying symbolic messages.

Andreja Čeligoj belongs to the younger generation of graphic designers and illustrators. Made from collage and drawing her ex-libris carries a rich symbolic message.

Edi Berk is a graphic designer. He graduated in 1980 from the Faculty of Architecture. He is involved in visual communications design and this is present in his ex-libris where the typography of letters and symbolic signs are logically connected thus uniting the two basic elements of the visual and literary arts.

Berko is a painter and graphic designer. By combining photography and digital graphics he has imbued his ex-libris with the colourful urban pulse of Ljubljana.

Bojan Klančar is a graphic artist who amalgamates nature, letters and the symbol of Ljubljana in his ex-libris.

Painter and graphic artist Milena Gregorčič connects the precious arts such as literature and painting through her own personal symbolism.

Miran Kreš is a painter of the younger generation. His pure, abstract ex-libris elements produced by graphic techniques create an independent truth.

Nataša Ribič Štefanec is a multi-faceted painter who expresses the ideological openness of her artistic views in an interesting and bold way. This time the author’s interest is directed to the exploration of symbols connected to the city of Ljubljana and to the world of books.

Painter Žarko Vrezec reinforces his reflections on the abstracted visual field which is the bearer of the autonomous art organism with an inner logic and a life of its own.

Nataša Šušteršič Plotajs is a visual communications designer. A graphic stylisation of the city symbol is the motif for her ex-libris which illustrates the theme of the exhibition in an artistically original way.

Nejč Slapar incorporates geometric graphic lines into a logical unity which encapsulates the theme.

Painter Janez Mišo Knez who also works as a sculptor and graphic artist creates an abstract image of a dragon in richly coloured surfaces by combining collage and graphics. With it he makes a direct allusion to Ljubljana being this year’s World Book Capital.

Svetlana Jakimovska Rodić experiments with various approaches and motives in her paintings which is present in her ex-libris too.

Nina Zelenko conjures in her ex-libris a lyrical and delicate heavenly garden reminiscent of Ljubljana Castle. The artist leads us into the fabulous riches of the natural world where the art and symbolism intertwine.

Dušan Muc is a well known illustrator of many children’s and young people’s books. His artistic world is a narrative of rich, picture stories and filigree patterns born in the author’s own creative fantasy world.

With different creative approaches all fifteen artists unite the content of the ex-libris with their own rich artistic expression. The threads between a book and an image intertwine constantly thus uniting the two worlds by means of abstract, geometric and symbolic signs.

Jadranka Ljubičič