Aleksandar Srnec
Composition T-24, 1959
oil on canvas
91 x 88 cm
MG-2576

Composition T-24 by Aleksandar Srnec is an example of radicalized geometric abstraction, characteristic of the avant-garde art group EXAT 51, of which he was a member. The work is based on a dynamic arrangement of simple geometric forms—squares, rectangles, and lines—that float on a light surface, creating a balanced yet rhythmically engaging visual impression. The contrasting use of primary colors (red, blue, yellow) alongside black elements enhances the dynamism of the composition and reflects influences of Constructivism and Suprematism. A centrally placed, diagonally oriented square acts as a stabilizing element within the composition, while the surrounding forms are arranged to suggest movement and spatial tension. Here, Srnec explores the relationships between surface, color, and balance, employing minimalist expressive means to achieve a pure abstract harmony.
He built his artistic expression through radicalized geometric abstraction, experimenting with kinetic sculptures and lumino-kinetic explorations. As early as the 1950s, he constructed his first mobile kinetuc objects of free composition, and from 1962, he intensively worked with light effects in art, developing a series of luminoplastic works and experimenting with pure light. From 1968 onward, he focused on creating kinetic sculptures in highly polished metals and designing environmental installations. He was briefly engaged in animated film, but his primary contribution remained tied to innovative forms of abstract and kinetic art. For his artistic achievements, he received the Vladimir Nazor Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.
Aleksandar Srnec attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb from 1943 to 1949, where he acquired his foundational artistic education. He was one of the founders of the EXAT 51 group, which advocated for the synthesis of art and architecture and the affirmation of geometric abstraction.

Text: Lorena Šimić, curator at the National Museum of Modern Art © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb