Banka Slovenije is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year, and on this occasion we reflect on its role over these past few decades, which have proven decisive for Slovenia. We often forget that the work performed by Slovenia’s central bank is the most directly connected with our everyday lives. This is most tangibly materialised in the form of a (national) currency. The story of the tolar thus provides an opportunity to look back into the time when our new daily (economic, political and cultural) lives were being established, in which Banka Slovenije played a fundamental role.
Despite being relatively short lived, the tolar quickly became and remained part of our consciousness. This was undoubtedly largely thanks to its exceptional visual identity created by the legendary designers Miljenko Licul and Zvone Kosovelj. The story of the tolar is thus primarily a story about how the two designers successfully translated the diverse needs and interests of a completely new country, its historical pride and hopes for the future into visual language. This story is narrated by various materials, from direct fragments of the design process itself, original portraits by Rudi Španzel and Licul’s preparatory studies, to video interviews with the key actors of that period.
The exhibition takes us on a journey through Slovenia’s recent history and our own memories, because money is a place where these two elements, the public and private, are intimately intertwined. This is especially true for the tolar, whose exceptional design expressed who we are as a community and what also presents us, as a community, to the world in the best possible light. The outstanding visual design of our first currency is a reason to be proud, and also an indicator of how certain values can rapidly unify us.
Produced by: Banka Slovenije
Exhibition created by: Špela Goltes and Vladimir Vidmar
Texts by: Samo Trtnik
Designed by: Špela Goltes
Filming and video production by: Simon Pintar
MGBS Curator: Vladimir Vidmar
Special thanks for their assistance in preparing the exhibition’s content go to: Maja Licul, Katarina Toman, Mojca Turk, Zvone Kosovelj, Janez Majce, Ranko Novak, Andrej Rant, Rudi Španzel, Arhitekturni center DESSA and the Ljubljana Museum of Architecture and Design.
