Mirjana Sakač, prof.
Exhibition "CROATIAN-SWEDISH CONTACTS"
Collective exhibitions have always provoked exceptional tension because artists present their works not only to visitors but at the same time they disclose them "unprotectedly" to the critical eye of coexhibitors. In their wish to exhibit collectively artists usually find mutual links at such exhibitions. The link at this exhibition is Sweden. The exhibitors are connected with this remote northern country either by business or family ties, or even by exhibiting their works in Sweden. We can identify this contact with Sweden as a thread running through all the exhibited paintings.
Antonija CESAREC
Antonija Cesarec started painting in 1987, and until now she has exhibited at seven one-man shows and numerous collective exhibitions. She often participates in art colonies and workshops in schools and is also a frequent donor at many humanitarian and sports activities. She obtained her education in arts in the "Studio Tanay", and later in the painting school "Agora" where she accomplished her master training in the class of prof. Ksenija Turčić. She applies different techniques in her painting: oil, acrylic paint, Indian ink, gouache, and is very skilful in producing floral collage. She is a member of art societies in Zagreb, Prelog and Ludbreg. Antonija Cesarec cultivates a very distinct relationship to the object or landscape in her painting. The artist converts reality into abstract forms with pronounced sensibility and at the same time preservies a recognizable sign of essential elements of reality. Due to family ties she travels to Sweden where she stays and paints several months every year. The painting at the exhibition representing the Mösnaren lake, is one of many that emerged from Sweden.
Đurđa DEBOGOVIĆ
After having finished the School for Applied Arts in Zagreb, Đurđa Debogović took a job as a designer at the ceramics factory "Inker". However, inspired by a strong wish for her own creativity she did not stop at merely designing factory products, but has also been intensively engaged in painting for many years. She has taken part in one-man shows and collective exhibitions. The exhibited landscapes of Samobor, where she lives, are produced in glass-ceramics technique. They excel by their harmonious composition, cheerful motifs and soft colours. They are attractive and pleasant to the eye. We can also mention that Samobor was the place where Swedish slavists often stayed in the 1920s and 1930s when they were friendly with Franjo Bučar, the founder and first chairman of the Croatian-Swedish Society.
Zlatko JAKUŠ
After finishing secondary school in Zagreb Zlatko Jakuš studied graphics at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm in the class of prof. Nils G. Stenovista from 1971-75, specializing engraving. As an excellent artist he tested his skill for many years in all graphic techniques. The artist's precision in producing miniature formats reached its full expression in the creation of more than two hundred postal stamps for many countries, mostly for Sweden. He has exhibited in Zagreb, Varaždin, Split and Ljubljana, and in European countries such as Sweden, Italy, France and Spain, followed by New York, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore. At this show he exhibits three engravings of Stockholm that perfectly show the organized precision of his unique graphic expression.
Danko PRIBAČIĆ
Danko Pribačić joined the newly founded painters' club "Nikola Tesla" in 1975. He became enthusiastic about his new discovery - painting, and looked for and soon found excellent tutors, the academic painter, Maja Mubrin and, the academic painter, Zdenko Ricijaš at the Center for Art Education of the City of Zagreb. He has exhibited at eight one-man shows and several collective exhibitions of which the one in Stockholm can be pointed out. He is very skilful in using painting techniques. Some twenty years ago he stayed in Sweden for a year where some of his urban landscapes arose. At this exhibition he exhibits motifs from the Botanical Garden in Zagreb, an urban landscape painted during his stay in Stockholm, and some other motifs from Sweden with which his inspiration has lasting ties.
LJubomir RADOVANČEVIĆ
Ljubomir Radovančević, a physician by profession, received his art training in several schools for painting and sculpture. Beside his demanding profession he is intensively occupied with artistic activity, and until now has had 35 one-man shows and participated in over 100 collective exhibitions in Croatia and abroad. He has been awarded several diplomas for his work. He has participated in many art colonies, and often undertakes study trips. He uses different techniques, and his major interest and preoccupation are landscapes. The exhibited paintings with motifs from Gorski Kotar and the Mediterranean landscape with their dense and rather intense colours and big free strokes vividly evoke authentic images of the natural beauty of these areas.
Nikola REISER
Nikola Reiser, academic painter and academician. After World War II the artist finished his studies at the Art Academy which he had commenced in 1939. He lectured at the Art Academy as professor from 1969 until 1983. He was head of the master's workshop, and became a member of the Academy of Arts and Science in 1977. He often travels in Europe, and between 1966-1969 regularly stayed in Sweden. Nikola Reiser's painting is distinguished by subtle coloristic expression. Watercolour painting was the most suitable technique to achieve the soft and often nostalgic atmosphere of delicate lyric sensibility. Most represented motifs of the artist's watercolour paintings are still life with flowers.
Vjera REISER
According to her work during the last twenty years Vjera Reiser has definitely qualified as a professional painter. She most often finds the sources for her motifs in Old Croatian authentic texts, and she uniquely paints neo-sacral miniatures. The choice of colours and the fluttering brush strokes are skilfully synchronized with the topic of these motifs. So far she has had more than 20 one-man shows. She cooperates with the Old Slavic Institute in Zagreb for which she painted three maps. The artist introduced herself at a one-man show in Stockholm in 1988 with 30 miniatures. Her frequent motif is the prophet Jonah from the Old Testament, which was also noticed at the recent exhibition. At the Stockholm exhibition the fish motif from the tale of Jonah is also present, and can be seen in paintings, mosaics, skulptures and church ornaments. Thus it was this Jonah from Sweden who gave the artist strong additional impetus in her further artistic work.
Gordana STANKOVIĆ
Gordana Stanković has been painting for twenty years, and is a member of the Croatian Art Association in Zagreb. Until now she had exhibited at 18 one-man shows and about 70 collective exhibitions. She has received numerous acknowledgements and awards for her work. Her paintings are kept in private collections and galleries in Croatia and abroad. At this exhibition she exhibits seven oil paintings on canvas. The artist is an explicit colorist. She skilfully builds the compositions of her landscapes, and her steady hand creates marvellous atmospheres of landscapes with a broad range of colours. Her Mediterranean landscapes glitter like a thousands sparks, whereas the exhibited paintings with motifs from Sweden are on the contrary still and tranquil, painted with condensed and sparing palette. Gordana Stanković is undoubtedly an artist with subtle sensibility and rich imagination.
Mirjana Sakač
Professor of art history
