The exhibition “Jelena Bando and Marija Ujević Galetović: Intersections” was opened on 9 January at the Josip Račić Gallery, in the presence of numerous guests. The exhibition is organised by the National Museum of Modern Art in partnership with the Nomad platform – Croatian Office for Contemporary Art.
After the introductory speech by Branko Franceschi, Director of the National Museum of Modern Art, Jelena Tamindžija Donnart, the exhibition curator and author of the accompanying catalogue text, discussed the concept that brought together the works of two Zagreb-based artists from different generations and approaches in a form of dialogue.
The exhibition include medium-sized oil paintings from the recent series (2023–2024) by academic painter Jelena Bando, alongside the acrylic on canvas titled “Supermici” (2004) and the bronze sculpture “You Silly Goat” (2015) by academic sculptor Marija Ujević Galetović. The latter has been specially loaned from a private family collection for this occasion. Art historian and exhibition curator Jelena Tamindžija Donnart describes the work as encapsulating the essence of one of Croatia’s most prominent sculptors, reflecting humour, sculptural precision, and a thoughtful cultural and philosophical message characteristic of her work.
(...) By positioning the two artists in a dialogue across different media, generations, and approaches, the aim is to create a unique experience that brings the legacy of one of Croatia’s most prolific sculptors to the forefront. (…) – notes Jelena Tamindžija Donnart in the bilingual exhibition catalogue.
Having been originally presented at the Frank Gallery in Vienna in November 2024, the exhibition will be on view at the Josip Račić Gallery until 2 February 2025.
Translated by: Robertina Tomić
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb