Exhibition from the NNMU in guest series

Labour – Creation and Achievement

Masterpieces from the Collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb

Nikola Tesla Technical Museum, Savska cesta 18, Zagreb

Exhibition dates: September 11 – October 19, 2025
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 10 AM – 6 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9 AM – 1 PM

Curator: Lada Bošnjak Velagić

Through a selection of around sixty works from the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, the exhibition Labour – Creation and Achievement explores work both as a fundamental human need and as a key factor in individual and social development. Featuring paintings, sculptures, prints, and photographs by artists such as Becić, Kljaković, Kerdić, and Dabac, curator Lada Bošnjak Velagić traces the evolution of dominant occupations and professions as a reflection of major socio-political changes in Croatian society from the late 19th century to the present day. From scenes of archetypal agricultural labor, through craftsmanship and industrial production, to the service- and technology-driven world of today, the exhibition presents the broadest spectrum of human activity, while also addressing the many injustices and challenges historically tied to labor. It highlights persistent gender divisions in the labor market, the systemic undervaluing of women's work, and the often harsh realities of life and work abroad.

In collaboration with the Technical Museum Nikola Tesla, this exhibition continues the NMMU on Tour series, initiated in 2022, ensuring the NMMU Collection remains visible throughout the renovation of the museum’s main premises.

The exhibition is funded by the funds of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia and the City Office for Culture and Civil Society of the City of Zagreb.

Reproductions: View of the exhibition / Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb