Paint palette, and behind it the Olympic rings, is a symbol of a painter and gymnast. It tells the story of a top gymnast, who after finished career fully devoted himself to his first love - painting.
Josip Primožič - Tošo, self-taught painter and famous gymnast, was born in 1900 in Ljubljana. He moves to Maribor, when he was 28 years old, already hardened and experienced by hard experience of his previous life. When he was seven years old, his mother died, so Josip was adopted by his uncle and joined eleven cousins. Despite the difficult life, he became a pupil in the secondary school.
Soon World War I occurs, and with it came lack of sources. Josip was forced to leave school and get a job in a weaponry factory. Then he was mobilized, but he manages to escape from the train and recourse to some farm, which become his hideout until the end of the war. He works there as a servant and gets physical strength. After the war, new authorities sent him to serve in the Yugoslav army in Kraljevo, where he began exercising gymnastics. In year 1923, he became a member of the Ljubljana Sokol (Hawk) sport society, and quickly showed his talent. In one year, he progressed so much that he was invited to a selection contest for the Olympic Games in Paris. Josip qualified and so in year 1924 attended his first Olympic Games. The next sixteen years he became one of the best gymnasts in the world.
In 1928, gymnast from Maribor Leon Štukelj invited him in the city, in order to train together. So Josip settled in Maribor and the same year, both won Olympic medals. At the Olympic Games in Amsterdam Štukelj won gold medal in circles, bronze in all-around gymnastic and with team, which Primožič was a part of. Primožič also wins silver on the parallel bars.
In 1930 at the World Championships in Luxembourg Primožič set a challenge for the next generations. He won 5 gold medals: in the all-around gymnastic, on horseback, on the parallel bars, free exercise, and with the team with Štukelj, bronze on beam. Eight years later, at the World Championships in Prague Josip wins bronze medal on the parallel bars and with team.
The year before World War II he ends his rich sports career, gets a job as a draftsman for a construction company and increasingly focuses on his love, which accompanied him since childhood - painting.
When World War II breaks out, Primožič opted for the resistance movement. He firstly became member of resistance movement OF, and later member of the Communist Party. But soon, he left the party and rather than political career pursues art. After the war, Primožič established himself as a painter in more than 160's solo and group exhibitions, and as scenographer at the National Theatre in Maribor, where he is credited with 65 scenes for drama, opera and ballet performances. After his retirement, he devoted himself exclusively to painting, his first and biggest love.