STA, 4 January 2020 - Moderna Galerija, the national museum of modern art, will put on a major exhibition of works by Slovenian artist Tobias Putrih this year and showcase illustrations by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. The Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM) will showcase photographs by Božidar Dolenc.
Born in 1972, Tobias Putrih, who lives and works in Cambridge, Massachusetts, deals with 20th century avant-garde in his conceptual and materially ephemeral projects, focussing on utopian and visionary concepts in architecture and design.
He conceives architectural changes for public spaces such as cinemas, libraries, galleries and universities - building temporary places from paper, cardboard, wood and light, Moderna Galerija writes about his work.
The retrospective will offer a good insight into his work, in sculpture as well as architecture. His projects of the last two decades will be presented, including interior design installations, monumental installations, objects and drawings.
The exhibition is to be held from 4 February until 2 May.
Pablo Picasso: Illustrations, which will be on show from May until September, will combine a number of Picasso's works from a private collection from Trieste.
The collection is owned by two sisters, who were good friends of Slovenian painter Zoran Mušič (1909-2005). The Slovenian part of the collection, which includes works by Mušič, will be donated to Moderna Galerija after their death.
The exhibition pays tribute to them, presenting works by Picasso that also inspired Slovenian artists. Picasso's illustrations of poetry, opera and other works will be on display.
From October to December, Moderna Galerija will host Greater Than Me: Contemporary Art and Yugoslavian Heritage, which the museum is preparing for the Italian national museum of 21st century art MAXXI in Rome, where it will be displayed in the summer.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM) will meanwhile host the first major posthumous exhibition of one of the most acclaimed photographers of the second half of 20th century in Slovenia. Autography, Enigma, Rebellion: Photography by Božidar Dolec is based on a collection the museum obtained in 2016.
Apart from his street images reflecting his non-conformist spirit, almost painful fierceness and meaningful bitterness, the exhibition will also present Dolen's comprehensive collection of photos capturing the alternative culture of the 1980s, according to the museum. It will between 23 February and 6 June.
Between 24 June and 3 October, the exhibition Political Performance of the 1990s in the area of former Yugoslavia will explore the events in periods of war and after the wars in Yugoslavia, and the connections between art performances and political and ideological structures that created them.
