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Vladimír Franz
Vladimír Franz
Born	25 May 1959 (age 65); Prague, Czechoslovakia
Website	vladimirfranz.cz

Vladimír Franz (born 25 May 1959 in Prague, Czechoslovakia), is a Czech composer, painter,^[1] university scholar and occasional journalist,^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] poet and playwright. Since mid-1980s he has composed stage music for more than 150 theatre performances—for many of them he was awarded national-level prizes—he has also composed a symphony, several operas, oratorios, a musical, ballet, as well as film music and music for documentaries and radio plays. His second main area of activities in the field of arts is represented by painting. Since 1991 he has been a lecturer at the Prague's Faculty of Theatre. In 2012 he was also a registered candidate in the 2013 Czech presidential election.^[6] The attention of local as well as world media has been attracted to him usually due to his extraordinarily extensive tattoos.

Biography

Franz was born in Prague. He studied at a gymnasium and later at the Faculty of Law of Charles University (1978–1982). During his studies, he took private lectures in painting, composition, art history and music history.

After his studies, he did not enter legal practice, but instead spent the 1980s in a variety of jobs, including as a high school teacher. In 1981, he co-founded the theatre Kytka, and gradually moved his attention to scenic music.

Since 1991, he has worked as a teacher at the Faculty of Theatre of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. In 2004, he was appointed Professor of Dramatic Arts.^[7]

In 2013 he was a candidate in the Czech presidential elections. He placed 5th in the first round with 6.84% (351,916 votes),^[8] but did not qualify for the second round.

Tattoos

Vladimír Franz is known also for his extensive tattoos, including facial ones. His unusual appearance attracted the attention of world press during the 2013 presidential election.^[9]

In an interview for the TV NOVA, he commented:^[10]

The art of tattooing is accompanying mankind since time immemorial. In addition to the original magic and ritual function, it represents also an aesthetic function. Of course – an aesthetic point of view is a matter of each free individual. Tattooing is an expression of free will, not touching the freedom of others. It is an expression of permanent and unchangeable decision to stand up for your opinion, in both good and bad. (...) My tattooing is result of a long-term sophisticated concept, not a sudden emotion.

Awards

Franz is a six-time recipient of the Alfréd Radok Award:^[11]

1998 – scenic music to the play Bloudění (Jaroslav Durych), directed by J. A. Pitínský, National Theatre, Prague
2000 – scenic music to the play Hamlet (William Shakespeare), directed by Vladimír Morávek, Klicperovo divadlo, Hradec Králové
2002 – scenic music to the play Marketa Lazarová (Vladislav Vančura), directed by J. A. Pitínský, National Theatre, Prague
2005 – scenic music to the play Devotion to the Cross (Pedro Calderón de la Barca), directed by Hana Burešová, Brno City Theatre
2006 – scenic music to the play Amphitryon (Molière), directed by Hana Burešová, Brno City Theatre
2007 – scenic music to the play Smrt Pavla I., Brno City Theatre

Published works

Franz posing with a human skeleton, 2012

Kamenný most – 1997
Faust – 1998
Cirkus Humberto – 1998
Júdit Tractatus Pacis – 1999
Vladimír Franz pro Národní divadlo – 1999
Gazdina roba – 2000
Rút – 2001
Kruhy do ledu – 2002
Ha-Hamlet !!! (Shakespearovská svita) – 2005
Triptych: Smrt Pavla I, Amfitryon, Znamení kříže – 2007

References

^ Theatre design & technology, Volumes 42–43 (2006), United States Institute for Theatre, pp. 34 and 48
^ Vladimír Franz – publicista Archived 2021-04-15 at the Wayback Machine, Fansite Vladimíra Franze
^ Blog Vladimíra Franze na České Pozici, Česká Pozice
^ Články Vladimíra Franze na České Pozici, Česká Pozice
^ Výběr z glos Vladimíra Franze pro Magazín Lidových novin Archived 2021-04-15 at the Wayback Machine, Fansite Vladimíra Franze
^ "Vladimir Franz: tattooed composer polling strongly in the Czech elections". The Guardian. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
^ "Vladimír Franz – Profil kandidáta" (in Czech). Czech Television. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
^ "Volba prezidenta republiky konaná ve dnech 11.01. – 12.01.2013" (in Czech). volby.cz. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
^ "Zahraniční média zajímá vysoká účast i potetovaný Franz" (in Czech). Aktuálně.cz. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
^ "Vladimír Franz: Po zvolení bych se šel nejdříve poklonit Masarykovi a Havlovi" (in Czech). TV NOVA. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013. ("Umění tetování provází lidstvo od pradávna. Kromě původní magické a rituální funkce plní i funkci estetickou. Jistě – estetický názor je věcí každého svobodného jednotlivce. Tetování je projevem svobodné vůle, nikomu druhému nezasahující do jeho svobod. Jde o výraz trvalého a neměnného rozhodnutí stát si za svým, a to v dobrěm i zlém. (...) moje tetování je výsledkem dlouhodobě promýšlené koncepce, nikoli náhlého hnutí mysli" ...)
^ "War with the Newts". National Theatre, Prague. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 11 January 2013.