The National Museum of Modern Art on Tour
Art Gallery of the City Museum of Križevci, Trg Antuna Nemčića 6/1, Križevci
Exhibition: CONTRASTS
Curator: Željko Marciuš
March 20 – April 12, 2025
Opening: March 20, 2025, at 6 PM
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. The concept of contrast embodies the fundamental human division between intellect and emotion, which is then manifested in art. Such divisions are well known in art history (Renaissance – Mannerism; Classicism – Romanticism; Cubism – Expressionism…).
The segment dedicated to construction will explore a progression from Vjekoslav Karas through the Croatian interpretation of Cubism and historical Realism, the Realism of the 1920s, and further to geometric abstraction, Photorealism, and postmodern variations. The broadly understood expressive component spans from the impressions of the 19th century (Vlaho Bukovac) and the early 20th century, through Expressionism—both distant from and close to realistic representation of motifs—coloristic expressions, organic and lyrical abstraction, and extends to the postmodern variations of Zlatan Vrkljan.
A distinctive feature of the exhibition will be the presentation of select construction-expression pairings, allowing viewers to experience the range of artistic function that expresses the extent of emotional and intellectual response.
The exhibition will feature works from (construction) the aforementioned Vjekoslav Karas and Ivan Meštrović, through Miroslav Kraljević, Vilko Gecan, Ivan Picelj, and Raul Goldoni, extending into postmodernism. Expression will be represented by paradigm-shifting artists, from Miroslav Kraljević and Vilko Gecan to various postmodern interpretations.
This will be an intimate yet visually engaging exhibition, accessible to audiences of all ages, offering a unique opportunity to explore the fundamental human division between intellect and emotion in one place.
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.
Reproductions:
Đuro Seder, Drawing I, II, III, 1969 / charcoal, paper; 3 sheets, individual dimensions: 480 x 360 mm / inv. no. MG-2904
Vlaho Bukovac, Japanese Woman, 1898 / oil on canvas; 41 x 32.5 cm / inv. no. MG-296
Milivoj Uzelac, Self-Portrait in Front of a Bar, 1923 / oil on canvas; 93 x 69 cm / inv. no. MG-1012
Marijan Trepše, In the Tavern (In the Café), 1919 / oil on cardboard; 43.7 x 51.7 cm / inv. no. MG-2161
Vilko Gecan, The Cynic, 1921 / oil on canvas; 110.5 x 99 cm / inv. no. MG-2668
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb