The Moderna Galerijia’s main branch, the one by Tivoli and not Metelkova, has a major new show that opened 31 January and runs until 31 March. Called Time Without Innocence. Recent Painting in Slovenia (Čas brez nedolžnosti. Novejše slikarstvo v Sloveniji), the exhibition brings together 23 artists who were born in the 1970s and 80s, and thus came of age after the Neue Slowenische Kunst (NSK) generation.
Arjan Pregl, from the Carnival series, oil on canvas (6 paintings 120 x 100 cm; 3 paintings 80 x 60 cm), 2018. www.mg-lj.si
Katja Felle, No. 10, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 170 cm x 220 cm. www.mg-lj.si
Photo: JL Flanner
We visited on opening night expecting a good party, and were delighted to find that in addition to the beautiful people smoking outside and free wine in the basement the paintings themselves were really good, so much so that we took them in twice before heading down for something to drink.
Iva Tratnik, Mating Season Totalitarianism, 2014, oil on canvas, 210 x 194 cm. www.mg-lj.si
Staš Kleindienst, The triumph of darkness, 2017, oil on canvas, 120 x 130 cm. www.mg-lj.si
Photo: JL Flanner
The Moderna’s website has more high quality pictures of the works on display, but I’m also adding some from the opening so you get an idea of the scale of things. It was this size that impressed, as well as the real craft on display, but what got me raving about it the rest of the evening were the colours, the humour and beauty, how much pleasure was to be had there. These were nice pictures that I enjoyed looking at, and which I’ll come back and look at again.
Miha Štrukelj, Shopping District, 2016, acrylic, ink, charcoal, pencil, crêpe paper on canvas, 300 x 225 cm. www.mg-lj.si
Mitja Ficko, Midnight school, 2012-2016, oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm. www.mg-lj.si
Photo: JL Flanner
Curated by Martina Vovk, the show is a mix of varied delights with multiple works from Viktor Bernik, Suzana Brborović, Gašper Capuder, Ksenija Čerče, Nina Čelhar, Tina Dobrajc, Katja Felle, Mitja Ficko, Mito Gegič, Žiga Kariž, Staš Kleindienst, Vladimir Leben z Ercigoj Art, Uroš Potočnik, Adrijan Praznik, Arjan Pregl, Ana Sluga, Miha Štrukelj, Maruša Šuštar, Iva Tratnik, Sašo Vrabič, Joni Zakonjšek, Marko Zorović and Uroš Weinberger.
You can find the Moderna Galerija at Cankarjeva 15, 1000 Ljubljana, and it’s open from 10:00 to 18: 00, Tuesday to Sunday, and closed Mondays. If you’re in the neighbourhood then be aware that the National Gallery (Narodna galerijaI) and National Museum (Narodna Muzej) are nearby, while if you venture into Tivoli Park you can find the International Centre of Graphic Arts (Mednarodni grafični likovni center).
