
Miroslav Schovanec
(31. 5. 1976)
Thirty-seven year old Miroslav Schovanec belongs to the younger generation
of Czech artists specializing in numismatics. His talent was discovered
by the academic painter Zbyněk Kubánek whose private lessons of drawing
Miroslav attended during his final year at the elementary school. He
started his professional career as an engraver in the Czech Mint where he
later worked also as a designer and an operator of CNC machines used for
the milling of coin dies. Although he started his work on medals relatively
late, he has made a whole series of successful productions. At present,
he is a member of the expert team of the Prague Mint, where in 2012 he
introduced himself with a medal dedicated to Zdeněk Miler and his internationally
famous cartoon protagonist “Krteček” (the Little Mole). Miroslav’s
hobbies include music and travelling; he has fallen under the spell of
Southeast Asia where he often returns. He considers sport, which has been
his favourite pastime since his childhood, the best way of relaxing. Interestingly,
while he was at the elementary school he was taught sport lessons by
the mother of the Olympic winner Barbora Špotáková.
Miroslav Schovanec was born in Mladá Boleslav, but he spent his childhood
in Jablonec nad Nisou. At the local Secondary School of Applied Arts
he studied the subject of engraving and forming of coin dies. Immediately
after completing his study, he continued with his education at the Higher
Technical School where medal and coin minting were taught. He further
improved his education at the Faculty of Art and Design in Ústí nad Labem.
INTERVIEW
Did you enjoy your work on the medal featuring “Krteček” (the Little
Mole)?
I must admit that I really enjoyed it. It was a pleasant change. When the opportunity
to design “the Little Mole” for a minted medal came up, I did not hesitate
even for a second. This beautiful theme is a challenge which you simply cannot
refuse. I submitted several graphic designs to Karolína Milerová, the granddaughter
of Zdeněk Miler and the founder of the Zdeněk Miler Foundation.
She chose one drawing from these designs and I made it into plaster models
and sent for her approval. It was used for the production of two gold medals.
What happened next with these extraordinary commemorative medals
made of pure gold?
One medal was sold in an auction with the profit going to the Foundation and
the second was donated directly to the Zdeněk Miler Foundation by the Prague
Mint which had the rights for the mintage of the Little Mole motive. First silver
versions with consecutive numbers one to five were also sold at an auction.
You like travelling. Which countries have you visited and where are you
planning to go?
Apart from Egypt I visited several European countries. I was most affected by
my stay in the Romanian city of Iaşi, where I spent one term on a study stay
during my education in Ústí. It was a great time and good experience; the place
impressed me by its culture, nature and people. As students we had student
cards for a 50% discount so we travelled a lot. In the following years I returned
twice to Romania.
Lately, I like going to Southeast Asia. I have visited Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
and this year I am planning a trip to Malaysia.