The statue is dedicated to Josip Pelikan, a photographer of Czech descent who lived and worked in Celje for most of his life.
He was born in 1885 in Trbiž (Tarvisio, present-day Italy). As a child, he learned the basic tools of the trade from his father. He worked as a photographer in several places in Slovenia until he settled down in Celje in 1920, where he remained until his death in 1977. In this period, he rose to prominence as the town's photo chronicler. He is also the author of acclaimed photo portraits created in his skylight photo studio dating from the late 19th century, which has been preserved to this day and turned into a museum. Showcased there are the photographer's original equipment, his glass plates, and photos.