Marián Vlašič – The Man, who moves photography to fine art

The famous American photographer Ansel Adams said: „The real photography doesn´t need explanation and can´t be described in words“. The only phrase that perfectly captures the feeling, when you look at the photo; you perceive emotions, story and discover its special appeal. If Adams didn´t die almost thirty years ago, one might think that he said it after watching Marián Vlašič´s work. That´s also how his photos are like – impressive, powerful, emotional. It doesn´t mater if there are people, nature or abstraction, becouse they have poetry and special charm in common. Marián Vlašič´s creative orientation as a photographer is wide. He shoots people, acts, nature and plays with abstraction. The versatility of his work comes from his professional qualities. When we look into the imaginary curriculum vitae of this artist, we find many remarkable activities and experiences in various fields.

He was born in 1962 in Bratislava. Already in early youth he reached success in amateur art and film competitions. That´s why he decided to study at SUPŠ led by prof. Fila and privately by Jozef Bubák (author of last Slovak banknotes). At the end of eighties he had worked for the company KARA Trutnov as a promotional artist.  His showcases designs attracted phenomenal interest in Czech Republic. 

Since 1989 he became a freelance. He changed his profession and started to install the exhibitions in Bratislava´s Gallery with great success. In the first post-revolution decade he has acted in Munich, where he created illustrations for magazine Connection, designed posters for Squash Center Pasing, made theatrical scenery for Pasinger Kunstfabrik, exhibited his paintings... The quality of his exhibition and its success was acknowledged by the offer to work for publishing house Vogue as artistic advisor. After his return from Germany he has worked as an editor and photographer for magazines Línia, Kankán, Kritika a context, Art Life, Divus Praha and for STV as a screenwriter and assistant director. At that period he also collaborated with Zuzana and Ondrej Rudavský and together formed a company Golden Spirale Prod. in New York. Marián Vlašič participated as an artist and filmmaker by creating videos for many bands, for example The Indies and Dead Can Dance. At the same time he became a professional photographer. He shot bands, catalogs, calendars and advertising orders for Lichtrad Verlag Rosenheim and Veem Amsterdam. 

Besides cooperation with foreign publishers he has been working in domestic area. He worked as art director at advertising agency Klemo and established legendary Art Cafe in Banská Štiavnica. He cooperated as photography curator and co-organizer of Month of Photography Bratislava. He participates as a juror in photographic and amateur film competitions. In recent years he worked as photograph for publishing house 7plus and as art director in the newspaper Plus Jeden deň. He directs trailers for TV Nova in Czech republic, where he created the most viewed trailer on market. He also shoots for the agency Accelerate, prepares a book for german publishing house with the topic of art nude.

This incredible number of actitivities underlines Marián Vlašič´s mastery as a photographer and artist. He is one of those, who move photography to fine art. He uses the camera as a tool and the result is born in his head. His pictures didn´t show the world as a true copy, but they give space for a parallel existence. If you have not seen any of many Marián Vlašič´s exhibitions, you can visit his virtual gallery at www.vlasic.net and see, that his photographs fascinate, inspire and mainly remain engraved in the memory as a powerful artistic experience.