On the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Croatian Association of Applied Arts Artists (ULUPUH), awards were recently presented. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to goldsmith Stjepan Balja for his contribution to Croatian cultural heritage, the goldsmith tradition, and the arts. Balja’s artistic career spans over six decades, and he is recognized for his innovative techniques in jewelry making, particularly his use of precious metals such as gold, silver, and titanium, writes Večernji.ba.
He is one of the few goldsmiths in the world who uses titanium in his work. Since 1966, he has run his own workshop, and in 1973, he became a member of ULUPUH. His work is recognized beyond Croatia, having been exhibited at numerous solo and group exhibitions. The award was presented to Balja by the Minister of Culture, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, who emphasized that it was especially meaningful for him to receive the award from his peers. “It is important to keep up with the profession. New people, ideas, solutions, and techniques emerge, and that is a challenge for me,” he said after receiving the award. "This award is the crown of my work and creativity," he added, noting that awards motivate artists to continue working and creating for the benefit of the profession and the association. "These awards, when recognized by your colleagues, are the ones that artists value the most," stated Minister Obuljen Koržinek.
“For me, jewelry is life. I do this work with love, and love is the main driving force for everything,” Stjepan Balja said in an interview with Večernji list BiH some time ago. Watching him work, it seems as if the goldsmith artist has created his own world in which only he and the material he works with exist, in such precise and meticulous detail. “I have been in the profession for over six decades, and with all those years of work, you really gain experience. I dare say that I know a little bit,” he smiles, then continues in a more serious tone:
“When I work, I am curious, and I have no difficulties; the work imposes itself,” he shared in the interview.
“I observe everything around me. I watch clouds, grass, shop windows, the play of light... and I simply play, while talking on the phone with a pencil and paper, a sketch is born which I refine, and by chance, a beautiful item is created, one that I like, those who want it like, and most importantly, how it is received by critics,” said the man who earned the status of a master goldsmith back in 1969 and is one of the five global creators who have their own secret technique for creating and shaping these impressive works of art.
Balja has held more than 200 group exhibitions and 49 solo exhibitions. “Every job has its ups and downs, and for me, even when life was toughest, I found pleasure, comfort, and peace in it. I don’t sell things; people come to me with orders, and these are young people who use the internet and know what jewelry is. They know they can find something here that no one else has, and for me, it’s a special challenge to make what no one else does. And that really makes me happy,” said the master of the art who, even in his ninth decade, still works with the enthusiasm and passion of a young man.
Unique Jewelry and Exhibitions
Balja often combines his gold, silver, and titanium jewelry with various gemstones (diamonds, amethyst, opal), coral, pearls, turquoise, and other precious minerals and crystals. As a free artist since 1993, his works and exhibitions represent a new wave in contemporary domestic and European jewelry, displayed in museums and galleries across Croatia, Europe, and Australia, receiving admiration and recognition wherever they have been shown.
Besides personal, individual jewelry, he also creates interior design pieces such as silver-clad glasses and vases, and paintings with motifs of crosses and the figure of the Virgin Mary. One unique feature of Balja's jewelry is the patina, which contributes to the fascinating artistic compositions and the luxurious color palette that unites earthly and otherworldly horizons. The magical power of the patina veils the original silver image, presenting a distinctive goldsmith phenomenon in modern European jewelry. In this way, Balja’s patina becomes an original sign and value that should be valued as cultural heritage.
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