It is a great honor for me to open such an exhibition featuring these valuable works in our Gallery. Last year, when Ms. Marta Radman, also a curator at the National Museum, opened the exhibition Discovered Otherness, it was a major event. The exhibition later traveled across Croatia. At that time, we showcased exceptional works of Croatian modern art, and now, we may be taking it a step further, stated Dr. Art. Tea Hatadi, Director of the Križevci City Museum, at the opening of the exhibition Contrasts, part of the NMMU on Tour cycle, on March 20 at the Fine Arts Gallery of the Križevci City Museum.

The exhibition concept was presented by Željko Marciuš, museum advisor at the NMMU, author of the exhibition and its artistic arrangement, who also wrote the introduction for the accompanying catalog published by the Križevci City Museum. The exhibition was officially opened by Danijel Šaško, Deputy Mayor of Križevci.

A selection of around twenty works from the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art will be on display for the Križevci audience until April 12, 2025.

Artists featured in the exhibition: Vjekoslav Karas, Vlaho Bukovac, Miroslav Kraljević, Ivan Meštrović, Milivoj Uzelac, Vladimir Becić, Robert Frangeš-Mihanović, Marijan Trepše, Milan Steiner, Đuro Tiljak, Edo Murtić, Vilko Gecan, Đuro Seder, Nina Ivančić, Jadranka Fatur, Raul Goldoni, Ivan Picelj, Zlatan Vrkljan, Šime Perić, Mladen Galić.

*"The exhibition Contrasts of Construction and Expression is based on twenty works (ten representing construction and ten representing expression) from the collections of the National Museum of Modern Art, with a focus on painting. Contrasts reflect the fundamental human division between intellect and emotion, which is then expressed in art. Such divisions are well known in art history (Renaissance – Mannerism; Classicism – Romanticism; Cubism – Expressionism…).

The structural segment of the exhibition develops from Vjekoslav Karas, through interpretations of Cubism and historical Realism in Croatia, the Realism of the 1920s, and up to geometric abstraction, photorealism, and postmodern variations. The broadly understood expressive aspect extends from the Impressionism of the 19th century (Vlaho Bukovac) and early 20th century, through expressionism, coloristic expressions, organic and lyrical abstraction, to the postmodern variations of Zlatan Vrkljan.

A new feature of the exhibition is the presentation of specific constructivist-expressive pairs, allowing the viewer to experience the spectrum of artistic reactions in a direct dialogue. Works by (construction) artists such as Vjekoslav Karas, Ivan Meštrović, Miroslav Kraljević, Vilko Gecan, Ivan Picelj, and Raul Goldoni will be displayed, spanning up to postmodernism. Expression, on the other hand, includes paradigm-shifting artists from Miroslav Kraljević and Vilko Gecan to postmodern variations.

The exhibition will be intimate yet striking, accessible to all audiences, offering visitors a unique opportunity to reflect on the fundamental human division between intellect and emotion."
– Željko Marciuš

The exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Križevci, and the Koprivnica-Križevci County.

For more information about visiting the exhibition, please visit the website of the Križevci City Museum:
https://www.gradski-muzej-krizevci.hr/

Photo credits:
(1) View of the Contrasts exhibition setup at the Fine Arts Gallery of the Križevci City Museum © Archive of the National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
(2, 3, 4) Views of the Contrasts exhibition setup at the Fine Arts Gallery of the Križevci City Museum / Photo: Ozren Blagec © Križevci City Museum