Ivan Řehák
(2. 9. 1954)
The academic sculptor Ivan Řehák is one of the most famous Slovak artists.
As a medal designer he is the author of many commemorative coins
and medals for customers both from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In
2011 his two-euro coin was declared the most beautiful coin in the world in
the Trade Mark category by the Krause Publication publisher. His Alfons
Mucha and Pribina coins were also shortlisted for the ten most beautiful
coins in the world at the World Money Fair in Berlin. His last productions
include a commemorative gold and silver medal featuring the Royal Capital
of Prague which was coined by the Prague Mint at the end of 2013. The
author also takes part in the Event Calendar 2014 programme of the Prague
Mint where he is preparing materials for the mintage of titles Galileo Galilei
and Arthur Conan Doyle. He participated in FIDEM exhibitions in France,
Portugal, the USA, Finland and finally in England in 2012.
Ivan Řehák was born in Bratislava, where he lives and works. From 1973 to
1979 he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, the field of relief
sculpture in the studio of professor Rudolf Pribiš.
INTERVIEW
Medal production has a close relationship to history.
Which period is personally closest to you?
I have always had a liking for history, but I cannot give one period which I would
prefer. If I have to speak about preferences, then it is historical persons and it is
not important in which field they established themselves. I have surely closest
to artists, musicians, technicians and inventors. What I personally like about
historical themes is the search for historical facts; by discovering new information,
that is new information for me, I create a space for inspiration.
Which professors influenced you most during your study?
In fact it was the influence of the art school led by the academic painter Magdaléna
Štrompachová which determined that I went on to become an artist.
At the Academy of Fine Arts I enrolled at the relief department of professor
Rudolf Pribiš, a student of Otakar Španiel. In his studio I learnt the basics of the
relief art from which I can draw support even today. I was certainly influenced
also by meeting professor Jozef Kostka and by my work in his studio after
graduating at the college.
Could you tell us which coin or medal made you most happy?
This question is very hard to answer. Personally, I have the feeling that the
coin designs for which I have the highest regard did not fare well with expert
commissions and they will probably have to wait for their recognition. Among
those which are known to the public and close to me, there is a coin dedicated
to Alfons Mucha, to Prince Pribina of Nitra and also to the Old Town Astronomical
Clock in Prague, a Rudolf II medal, which was originally a commemorative
coin design for a competition. My most famous coins are probably the
circulated Slovak one-euro and two-euro coins.
RABÍ JEHUDA LÖW – návrhy mince 200 Kč - sada II. 3x stříbro 34mm b.k. v etui 188,40 €
RABÍ JEHUDA LÖW – návrhy mince 200 Kč - sada II. 3x stříbro 1 Oz Proof 421,30 €
PRVNÍ DÁLKOVÝ LET JANA KAŠPARA – návrhy mince 200 Kč - sada 3x stříbro 34mm b.k. 178,93 €
PRVNÍ DÁLKOVÝ LET JANA KAŠPARA – návrhy mince 200 Kč - sada 3x stříbro 1 Oz Proof 421,30 €
Proof - Pražské dukáty - 2 dukát - Chrám sv. Víta Au 831,72 €
Proof - Pražské dukáty - 2 dukát - Chrám sv. Víta Ag 54,44 €
Proof - Pražské dukáty - 1 dukát - Karlův most Au 471,01 €
Proof - Pražské dukáty - 1 dukát - Karlův most Ag 46,82 €
Položení zakladního kamene ke stavbě trojlodí Chrámu sv. Víta - 625. výročí zlato b.k. 1 891,12 €
Položení zakladního kamene ke stavbě trojlodí Chrámu sv. Víta - 625. výročí stříbro patina 84,73 €
Matěj Kopecký - 240. výročí narození stříbro patina 84,73 €
Kronika česká Václava Hájka z Libočan - 475. výročí zlato b.k. 1 891,12 €
Kronika česká Václava Hájka z Libočan - 475. výročí stříbro patina 84,73 €
Královské hlavní město Praha - zlato 1/2 Oz Proof 2 033,14 €
Královské hlavní město Praha - zlato 1 Oz Proof 3 737,28 €
Královské hlavní město Praha - stříbro 28 mm Proof 70,96 €
Královské hlavní město Praha - stříbro 1 Oz Proof 279,29 €
Královské hlavní město Praha - 1 Oz b.k. Měď 19,68 €
Korunovácia Maximiliána II. - návrhy mince 100 € sada Au medailí 1 Oz Proof 7 526,63 €
Korunovácia Maximiliána II. - návrhy mince 100 € sada Ag medailí 1 Oz Proof 113,14 €
KAREL JAROMÍR ERBEN – návrhy mince 500 Kč - sada 3x stříbro 34mm b.k. 178,93 €
KAREL JAROMÍR ERBEN – návrhy mince 500 Kč - sada 3x stříbro 1 Oz Proof 421,30 €
JIŘÍ TRNKA – návrhy mince 500 Kč - sada 3x stříbro 34mm b.k. 169,47 €
JIŘÍ TRNKA – návrhy mince 500 Kč - sada 3x stříbro 1 Oz Proof 421,30 €
Galileo Galilei - 450. výročí narození zlato b.k. 1 891,12 €
Galileo Galilei - 450. výročí narození stříbro patina 84,73 €
BENO BLACHUT – návrhy mince 500 Kč - sada 3x stříbro 34mm b.k. 161,89 €
BENO BLACHUT – návrhy mince 500 Kč - sada 3x stříbro 1 Oz Proof 421,30 €