Almost Springtime, 100 years of Slovene Art

APT artist Jasmina Cibic is participating the exhibition "Almost Springtime, 100 years of Slovene Art". 
In the final stage of the European Capital of Culture Maribor 2012 the UGM / Maribor Art Gallery, in cooperation with the major Slovenian galleries and museums, presents a review of the 20th century art from Impressionism to Retro Avant-garde. Almost Spring also offers an insight into the new practices of the 21st century Slovenian visual art with a view into the future. Shall we step towards spring together?

In 2012, the Maribor Art Gallery hoped to present the highlights of its extensive Slovenian art collection in the new gallery building and at the same time to introduce the long awaited permanent exhibition. Due to the delayed beginning of construction of the new UGM building, we have instead embraced the idea to symbolically unite the entire Slovenian art space in Maribor. As a result, UGM now presents a review of Slovenian art of the past 100 years from the collections of about 20 Slovenian museums and galleries, including the National Gallery and Museum of Modern Art, Coastal Galleries Piran, Mikl house in Ribnica, Gallery of Murska Sobota and others. In its search for new perspectives for the future, UGM is opening a new art venue with the final exhibition of 2012. High above the city of Maribor, on the 11th floor of the once famous Hotel Slavija, which has been recently renovated and awakened from obscurity, Slovenian artists of the future are presented. A selection of works by 30 most prominent figures of contemporary visual art at the same time presents the most recent history and one of the possible views into the future.

We have divided the hundred years of Slovenian art into two parts, into the 20th and 21st century. The 20th century follows the chronological overview of Slovenian art, starting with the Impressionists and continues all the way to the end of the century. Among the participating museums and galleries the Museum of Modern Art has the central role with its contribution of the works by several great names, such as Marij Pregelj, Gabrijel Stupica and Zoran Mušič. Other collections can be recognised by their excellent segments of Slovenian art, for instance the National Gallery with the representatives of Slovenian Impressionism: Rihard Jakopič, Matija Jama, Ivan Grohar and Matija Sternen; Coastal Galleries Piran with the 1980s art, Gallery Mikl house with the sculptures from the end of the century, and the collection of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design with works by its academic staff. The UGM exhibition joins works which normally are not displayed together and by positioning them in new constellations, a fresh discourse is enabled. Apart from the chronological overview the exhibition reveals certain special features - a room is reserved for selected thematic emphases which will change in the course of the exhibition: initially, it is called the “Maribor room”. The 21st century presents the most interesting names of contemporary art production. These are the individuals who have already made an impact and whose works have found their place in the history of Slovenian art, even though they are clearly focused on the future: ranging from the middle-aged generation (Vadim Fishkin, Nika Špan and Nataša Prosenc) to the younger artists, the »rising stars« (Jasmina Cibic, Jaša, Peter Koštrun and others).

The strongest of the many connotations of spring is the promise of expectation. It is an ancient record of endless continuation and arrival of a new beginning. It is precisely our expectations that drive us forward, no matter how uncertain the path ahead may be. We kindly invite you to join us on our journey through a hundred years of Slovenian art while we expect new beginnings and flourish also for our gallery!

curators: Breda Kolar Sluga and Simona Vidmar

In co-operation with: Meta Gabršek Prosenc; and with assistance of: Andreja Borin, Meta Kordiš, Andreja Rakovec, Brigita Strnad and Taja Toplak

participating artists: Zamira Alajbegović Pečovnik & Neven Korda, Stojan Batič, Mirsad Begić, Uršula Berlot, Emerik Bernard, Fran Berneker, Janez Bernik, Viktor Bernik, Bogdan Borčič, Remigij Bratož, Mirko Bratuša, Jakov Brdar, Ida Brišnik Remec, Andrej Brumen Čop, Karla Bulovec Mrak, Ciril Cesar, Jasmina Cibic, Viktor Cotič, Dragica Čadež, Ivan Čargo, Ksenija Čerče, Avgust Černigoj, Sandi Červek, Bogdan Čobal, Ivan Čobal, Vuk Ćosić, Božidar Dolenc, Lojze Dolinar, Nuša Dragan, Srečo Dragan, Ivan Dvořak, Eclipse, Vadim Fishkin, Alenka Gerlovič, Olaf Globočnik, Gustav Gnamuš, Bojan Golija, Darko Golija, Franjo Golob, Bojan Gorenec, France Gorše, Samuel Grajfoner, Stojan Grauf, Tomaž Gregorič, Meta Grgurevič, Ivan Grohar, Marina Gržinič, Matjaž Hanžek (OHO), Jasna Hribernik, Ištvan Išt Huzjan, Zdenko Huzjan, Irwin, Božidar Jakac, Rihard Jakopič, Marko Jakše, Matija Jama, Janez Janša & Janez Janša & Janez Janša, Jaša, Janko Andrej Jelnikar, Andrej Jemec, Zmago Jeraj, Boris Jesih, Karel Jirak, Jurij Kalan, Boris Kalin, Zdenko Kalin, Žiga Kariž, Elsa Kasimir Oeltjen, Maks Kavčič, Stojan Kerbler, Dušan Kirbiš, Gabrijel Kolbič, Anton Gojmir Kos, Ivan Kos, Peter Koštrun, Rudolf Kotnik, Marko A. Kovačič, Damijan Kracina, France Kralj, Tone Kralj, Metka Krašovec, Stane Kregar, Naško Križnar (OHO), Laibach, Vladimir Leben, Zmago Lenárdič, Janez Lenassi, Miha Maleš, Janez Marenčič, Iztok Maroh, Živko Marušič, Milenko Matanović (OHO), Franc Mesarič, France Mihelič, Zoran Mušič, Boštjan Novak, Jan Oeltjen, Alen Ožbolt, Ludvik Pandur, Josip Peteln, Veno Pilon, Nikolaj Pirnat, Herman Pivk, Štefan Planinc, Matjaž Počivavšek, Tadej Pogačar, Marko Pogačnik (OHO), Oton Polak, Borut Popenko, Zmago Posega, Marjetica Potrč, Mark Požlep, Marij Pregelj, Mira Pregelj, Arjan Pregl, Janez Pristavec, Nataša Prosenc, Franc Purg, Karel Putrih, Tobias Putrih, Marijan Remec, Oto Rimele, France Rotar, Rudolf Saksida, Jakob Savinšek, Maksim Sedej, Sašo Sedlaček, Janko Skerlep, Jože Slak – Đoka, Mojca Smerdu, son:DA, Lojze Spacal, Matej Sternen, Fran Stiplovšek, Gabrijel Stupica, Avgusta Šantel, Janez Šibila, Aina Šmid, Nika Špan, Tanja Špenko, Igor Štromajer, Miha Štrukelj, Ive Šubic, Jože Šubic, Lojze Šušmelj, Tugo Šušnik, Apolonija Šušteršič, Marko Šušteršič, Slavko Tihec, Jože Tisnikar, Ante Trstenjak, Drago Tršar, Dušan Tršar, Miha Turšič, Aleksandra Vajd & Hynek Alt, Petra Varl, Janez Vidic, Jana Vizjak, Lujo Vodopivec, Matej Andraž Vogrinčič, Milan Vojsk, Sašo Vrabič, Matjaž Wenzel, Vlasta Zorko, Dunja Zupančič, Zdenka Žido, Dragan Živadinov