Jiři Kočica
Jiři Kočica was born in 1966 in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana. In 1993 he obtained a M.A. at the same institution, for his “Sculpture in Duration”.
He currently works as a professor for design and decoration at the High School for Interior Decoration in Ljubljana and also as an assistant professor at the University of Maribor.
Over the years he has successfully intertwined his pedagogical and artistic work in forms of workshops and participatory exhibitions. His articles on theory of art are published in various books and journals. Jiři Kočica lives and works in Ljubljana with his wife Vilma Ducman and their three children.
Project “Votive sculptures” derives from a traditional habit, where votive figures, made of wax and sometimes other materials, were given to the altar in the church as a sacred gifts. This habit was preserved in the central European countries up until 19th century. Jiri Kočica made different kind of figures including wax statues of families and couples. He used to give them to the visitors of the galleries where he exhibited. This project was some kind of reversed traditional habit and it represented a connection, which has made us more integrated into the community
