On 9 September, the Striegl City Gallery in Sisak https://galerija-striegl.hr/ marked the 107th anniversary of the birth of Sisak artist Slavo Striegl with the opening of Bridges of Promise, an exhibition from the “NMMU On Tour” series. The opening ceremony featured addresses by Jurica Škofač, Director of the Striegl City Gallery, and Branko Franceschi, Director of the National Museum of Modern Art. The curatorial concept of the thirtieth exhibition in the series was presented by Lada Bošnjak Velagić, Museum Adviser at the NMMU and curator of the exhibition. Among other remarks, Bošnjak Velagić said: “Tonight’s exhibition traces the development of Croatian artistic modernity through the motif of the bridge. From Slava Raškaj, Račić and Vidović, through Becić, Dulčić and Murtić, to the present day and the works of Matko Vekić and Ivica Mareković, the works on display interpret the bridge as both a detail in the landscape and urban veduta, and as a universal symbol of thought crossing over to the other side, a link that can paradoxically both connect and divide, signifying both meeting and parting, salvation and ruin.” She ended by thanking the Striegl City Gallery for an excellent collaboration, and director Jurica Škofač and colleagues from the Sisak museum for making the NMMU feel at home there. She also thanked all the collaborators whose combined efforts on “Bridges of Promise” had successfully bridged every obstacle.
More detailed information about all the works on display is available via the barcodes on the museum labels, while around thirty paintings, sculptures and medals from the NMMU Collection that could not be exhibited due to conservation and spatial constraints are presented by way of a photographic projection.
The exhibition, produced in collaboration between the National Museum of Modern Art and the Striegl City Gallery, will remain on view until 4 October 2026. It was funded by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia and the City of Sisak. In addition to a catalogue published by the Striegl City Gallery, the exhibition is accompanied by an educational programme.

Photographs from the opening: Nikola Crnolatec, Striegl Municipal Gallery, Goran Vranić, National Museum of Modern Art