CONTEMPORARY ART FROM YUGOSLAVIA CONTEMPORARY ART FROM YUGOSLAVIA Auckland City Art Gallery National Art Gallery, Wellington Dunedin Public Art Gallery Robert McDougall Art Gallery Christchurch Credits: Catalogue Design Ross Ritchie Type Setting Monoset Trade Services Printing Wakefield Press Ltd. Auckland Set in Melior Roman 8/10 1000/5/78 2 INTRODUCTION Ernest W Smith On behalf of the Auckland City Art Gallery, the National Art Gallery Wellington, Dunedin Public Art Gallery and the Robert McDougall Art Gallery Christchurch, we wish to thank His Excellency, Dr. B. Karapandza, the Ambassador of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in New Zealand, for his initiative in securing this exhibition of Contemporary Art from Yugoslavia for tour of New Zealand during 1978. 3 4 CONTEMPORARY ART FROM YUGOSLAVIA This is the first exhibition of art from Yugoslavia to be shown in New Zealand and it gives me great pleasure to be associated with it. Our two countries have many close ties. Many settlers came to New Zealand from Dalmatia over a century ago and in time they and their descendants became some of our most industrious citizens and, amongst other things, helped to establish our wine industry. This is a far cry from art, but these people carried with them the artistic and cultural traditions of their native land. Now they will be able to share the experience with all New Zealanders of seeing the development of art in the homeland of their ancestors. It is a diverse display of many arts and it reflects the vigour and vitality which characterises the Yugoslav nation. I trust it receives the support of all New Zealanders and I hope in time we will be able to reciprocate this cultural gesture. The Rt. Hon. R.D. Muldoon 5 6 CONTEMPORARY ART FROM YUGOSLAVIA The first exhibition of Contemporary Yugoslav Art to be held in New Zealand coincides with the observance of the centenary of the arrival in New Zealand of the first settlers from Dalmatia, part of the Socialist Republic of Croatia, one of the federal states of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Contemporary Yugoslav art has undergone radical changes in the course of its development and has been transformed from a follower, to an active and recognised participant in modern international art movements and has attracted attention at all international exhibitions; in Venice, Paris, Sao Paulo, Tokyo, and many other world centers. It h.as added a number of major names to 20th century painting, graphic art, sculpture and photography. Contemporary Yugoslav art reflects the rich past, and cultural heritage of peoples who have historically lived at the crossroads of East and West. This exhibition also illustrates the dynamics and vitality of Yugoslav cultural life today, the blend of old and new, National and Universal, being one of the most fundamental characteristics. The aim of the exhibition, which will be held in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, and Christchurch is to show the public of New Zealand, distant from Yugoslavia but close and friendly, the broad spectrum of today's basic currents in Yugoslav art, its leading artists and range from modern realism to conceptual art. We hope that this exhibition will give impetus to the further promotion of overall co-operation, especially in the field of culture between Yugoslavia and New Zealand.We express our gratitude to the New Zealand art galleries who have enthusiastically hosted this exhibition. Dr. Branko Karapandza Yugoslav Ambassador 7 8 PAINTING JANEZ BERNIK Born in 1933, at Gunclji. Was graduated from the Academy afFine Arts in Ljubljana, in 1955. He is also a graduate of a training course in graphic arts (attended in Ljubljana). Worked in Friedlaender's Studio in Paris. Now an assistant professor in the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. Lives in Ljubljana. Has had several one-man shows; participated in a number of group exhibitions in Yugoslavia and abroad (Lugano: BIANCO E NERO, 1960; Paris: Biennial of the Young, 1961; Rimini: PREMIO MORGAN'S PAINT, 1961; Alexandria: Biennial of Mediterranean Countries, 1961; Venice: Biennials 1962, 1970; Tokyo: International Biennial of Graphics, 1962, 1964; Sao Paulo: Biennial, 1965; Graz: TRIGON, 1963, 1965; Kassel: DOCUMENTS, 1964; Prague: Modern Currents in the World Graphics, 1964; Nurenberg: SPIEGEL-GOLD, 1967; Venice: European Graphics, 1971; Nurenberg: World Graphics, 1971; etc.) Recipient of several Yugoslav and international art awards. 1. HOLIDAY ON ISLE oil on canvas, 90 x 139 em. 2. EARTH LAYERS, 1959 oil on canvas, 110 x 138.5 em. MILAN BLANUSA Born in 1943, in Svetozarevo. Was graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade, in 1967. He is also a graduate of a special training course in graphics (the State School afFine Arts in Braunschweig, 1970). Has published a large number of writings on pictorial arts. Lives in Belgrade. Has had several one-man shows; participated in many group exhibitions in Yugoslavia and abroad (Hanover, Braunschweig, Wolfsburg: Young Generation of Artists of the Republic of Niedersachsen, 1968; Zagreb: Exhibition of Yugoslavian Drawings, 1971, 1975; Coventry: Yugoslavian Painting and Sculpture of the Present, 1973; etc.) Received several Yugoslavian art awards. 3. RENE MAGRITI'E'S ROOM, 1975 oil on canvas, 60 x 50 em. 4. GIRL BATHER, 1975 oil on canvas, 101.5 x 151.5 em. 9 JOZE CIUHA Born in 1924, in Trbovlje. Was graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana, in 1950. Was the head of the "Figurale Malerei" Course in Salzburg (197 4, 197 5 and 1977). Associate Professor in the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. Lives in Ljubljana. Has had several one-man shows; participated in a number of group exhibitions in Yugoslavia and abroad (Francavilla a! Mare: PREMIO MICHE'ITI, 1973; Chieti: Exhibition of Small Format, 1973; Ljubljana: International Biennial of Graphics, 1977; etc.) Recipient of several Yugoslavian and international art awards. 5. VARIATION ON THE TIIEME x:m, 1976 combined technique on plexiglass, 70 x 60 em. 6. VARIATION ON THE TIIEME XIV, 1976 combined technique on plexiglass, 60 x 60 em. ALEKSANDAR CVETKOVIC Born in 1947, at Aleksinac. Was graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade, in 1973. The graduate studies finished in Belgrade, in 1975. Lives in Belgrade. Has had several one-man shows; participated in many group exhibitions in Yugoslavia and abroad. Received several Yugoslav art awards. 7. CLOUD "F", 1975 oil on canvas, 120 x 120 em. 8. 1HE CLOUD FORMATION XVll, 1976 oil-acrylic on canvas, 170 x 150 em. STOJAN CELIC Born in 1925, in Bosanski Novi. He was graduated from the Academy afFine Arts in Belgrade, in 1951. He is also a graduate of a special training course in painting (Belgrade, 1953). In addition to painting, he also creates works of graphic arts and tapestry. Writes art criticism and essays. Works as a full professor in the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. Lives in Belgrade. Has had a number of one-man shows; participated in many exhibitions in Yugoslavia and abroad (Venice: Biennials, 1964, 1972; Tokyo, Biennial, 1965; Bohum, PROFILES VI , 1966; Sao Paulo, Biennial, 1969; etc.) Received several Yugoslav art awards. 9. 1HE MEMORY OF JULY 20th, 1970, 1971 oil on canvas, 134 x 124 em. 10. ANOTHER CLIMATE V, 1964 oil on canvas, 136 x 126 em. 10 BOZIDAR DAMJANOVSKI Born in 1947, in Skoplje. Was graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade, in 1972. The graduate studies finished in Belgrade, in 1975. Lives in Belgrade. Has had several one-man shows; participated in a number of group exhibitions in Yugoslavia and abroad. Received several Yugoslav art awards. 11. THE PRESERVED ENERGY, 1976 combined technique on canvas, 130 x 120 em. 12. THE PRESERVED PART OF THE COSMOS, 1976 combined technique, 120 x 130 em. MIODRAG- DADO DJURIC Born in 1933, at Cetinje. Was graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. Lives in Moulin d'Herouval (Oise), near Paris. Has had several one-man shows; participated in many a group exhibition in Yugoslavia as well as internationally (Paris: ANTAGONISMES, 1960; Vienna: IDOLE UND DEMONEN, 1963; Kassel: DOCUMENTS III, 1964; New York: EUROPEAN DRAWINGS, 1965; Bern: ARTFANTASTIQUE, 1966; New York: European Painters of Our Day, 1967; Hamburg: Malerei des Surrealismus, 1968; Paris: A 2 Ans d'Art Contemporain en France, 1972; etc.) 13. LANDSCAPE WITH THE SUN, 1953 oil on papered canvas, 57 .5 x 69 em. 14. BIKINI, c 1954 oil on canvas, 65 x 58 em. D.ZEVDET DZAFA Born in 1935, in Pee. Was graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana, where he also finished his graduate studies. Lives in Pristina. Has had several one-man shows; participated in a number of group exhibitions in Yugoslavia and abroad (Rijeka: Biennial of Young Painters, 1971, 1973; Katowice: Exhibition ofYugoslavainPaintings, 1972; Belgrade: Triennial of Yugoslavian Pictorial Art, 1977; Cannes: The 7th International Art Exhibition, 1975; Paris: Yugoslavian Graphic Art, 1977; etc.) Recipient of several Yugoslavian and international art awards. 15. FROM THE CYCLE "AUTOBIOGRAPHY", 1975 combined technique, 100 x 85 em. 16. FROM THE CYCLE "AUTOBIOGRAPHY", 1978 combined technique, 130 x 108 em. 11 HERMAN GVARDJANCIC Born in 1943, at Ratece. Was graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana, where he also finished his graduate studies. Lives in Skofja Loka. Has had several one-man shows; participated in many a group exhibition in Yugoslavia as well as abroad (Rijeka: Biennial of the Young, 1970; Graz: International Painters' Week, 1972; Venice: Biennial, 1976; etc.) Recipient of several Yugoslavian art awards. 17. LANDSCAPE TONALITY I, 1977 acrylic on canvas, 130 x 100 em. 18. LANDSCAPE TONAUTY II, 1977 acrylic on canvas, 130 x 100 em. DJORDJE IVACKOVIC Born in 1955, in Horgosz.