The exhibition Untitled (Archive of the Vranyczany-Dobrinović Palace) https://nmmu.hr/en/2023/10/10/viktor-popovic-untitled-archive-vranyczany-dobrinovic-palace/ by Viktor Popović, a contemporary artist from Split, was opened this evening at the Josip Račić Gallery. On this occasion, Branko Franceschi, Director of the National Museum of Modern Art and the exhibition’s curator, spoke about the works on display.
We are grateful to Viktor Popović for his quick response that transformed the uncertain future of the National Museum of Modern Art into an artistic work, thus preserving it for eternity. Only time will tell whether this situation will one day seem incredible or be remembered as the beginning of the museum’s ultimate disintegration. With this theme, Popović has moved away from his customary anchoring in the familiar local context. However, to him, like any other visual artist, the museum of fine arts represents an extended home and homeland, the fate of which he personally, culturally, and existentially cares about. After the earthquake, but primarily due to a lack of vision and a sense of public welfare, the enriching cultural space has been narrowed. Perhaps only temporarily, perhaps in the long run, but steadfast in our mission, we are fighting alongside artists to ensure that this is by no means permanent.- as Branko Franceschi writes in the foreword to the exhibition catalogue.
The Head of the Directorate for Cultural and Artistic Development at the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Nevena Tudor Perković, art historians and art critics Sandra Križić Roban and Iva Körbler, museum advisor and head of the Oskar Herman Collection at the Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, Jasmina Bavoljak, museum advisor and head of the Painting Collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU), Snježana Pintarić, the director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Split, Jasminka Babić, the director of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka, Branka Benčić, the director of the Technical Museum in Zagreb, Markita Franulić, art historian Krunoslav Kamenov, artist and jewellery designer Nenad Roban, academic painter and designer Saša Šekoranja, academic painter and writer Dimitrije Popović, academic sculptor Nika Radić, painter Nenad Marasović, contemporary Croatian photographers Boris Cvjetanović and Luka Mjeda, and cinematographer Darko Bavoljak were among the first to view the exhibition, which is open at the Josip Račić Gallery until 3 December.
Translated by: Robertina Tomić
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb, 2023