Ivan Kožarić
Head, 1966
fibreglass
23.5 x 9 x 13 cm
MG-4114

Ivan Kožarić (1921 - 2020) made a lasting contribution to Croatian sculpture through his long-standing work, enriching the field with works that consistently highlighted the ludic nature of art. After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1949, Kožarić became involved with the Gorgona group, where he developed his neo-avant-garde style.
In the discussions of the 1960s about whether art should embrace figuration or abstraction, Kožarić took the most insightful position and opted for both. An example of this distinctive fusion of seemingly incompatible elements is his 1966 work, Head. A cylindrical fibreglass form, rounded at the top, features a sharply cut extension resembling a neck at the base on one side. Through subtle signs and detailed shaping, the sculptor transforms a geometric shape into a part of the human body. This also demonstrates the creative power of art, which can create the human figure from virtually nothing. In this sense, the artist becomes a divine entity, capable of moulding the material in his hands. For Kožarić, this divine entity is playfully childlike, transforming his art into what it ideally should be – a game.

Text: Filip Kučeković intern curator at the National Museum of Modern Art © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
Translated by: Robertina Tomić
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb

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