Exhibition GROUP SELF-PORTRAIT was created in response to the topic of 48th Zagreb Salon, organized by the Croatian Association of Visual Artists (HDLU) in Zagreb, with the theme of IDENTITY, which is interested in a selection of identity, understanding and perception, definition and image of the identity, situations and / or in the society [and with this we understood identity in our culture and cultural system] at the moment of Croatia’s stepping into the EU.
The exhibition was conceived triggered by the text of competition announced by HDLU Zagreb, in which the post festum note listed benefits for members of the Croatian Freelance Artists’ Association (HZSU) in a difficult financial situation, according to which they need not pay the cotisation fee of 100 HRK per artist, which does not apply to 300 HRK per curatorial concept that includes 1-5 artists.
This note is actually bestowed a true picture of society and culture in Croatia in this historic moment of entry into the EU which, who knows how will be remembered otherwise. It is this situation that actually is a reflection of identity, so we try to present it with an exhibition.
At the exhibition all artists who answer the call for participation – will exhibit nothing.
List participating artists will be recorded only in the only exhibit at the show, an empty book, which will show the list of participating artists and other who choose to take part in the show. Those who do not take part prior to the opening, will be able to sign to the book at the opening, and the list will be open to the future exhibitors after the exhibition opening is over, with a mail sent or signature in the book, dated.
The exhibition is actually a joint statement of disapproval of the situation at the scene, and its group portrait.
We are expressing our indignation for two decades, we are trying to explain the needs, we are trying to help, we are offering what misses on stage, we are bringing funds, opportunities, information, and official Croatia shows fundamentally disinterested, as if public activity in the culture means more than other activities. Maybe, after 20 years, we have arrived to the threshold beyond which will eventually cross the opinion of the open mind, because this conservatism is of much too long duration.
Why in the Ministry of Culture of republic of Croatia (MKRH ) they think that half the gross salaries of state officials is enough for the annual program of any organization? Does this mean that the artist, the production of one or more works, their transport to the site, insurance, technical setup of the exhibition, security during the exhibition, and other insurances, and return of works, technical staff, curator and writer, translator, proof readings and corrections, printer, paper, shipping of catalogues, press releases, and photos, photographers, packaging, paint for walls, other supplies and office materials, invitations and their envelopes, postage, storage, cleaning, opening of the exhibition, the speakers and their public appearances, hospitality, toilet paper, cleaning products, plastic cups and detergents, dishes, towels, gloves for handling the works, nails and screws, saws, drills, drill bits, frames, partition walls, pass-partouts, glass, ladders, brooms, posters, projectors, monitors, cabinets, tables, consoles, pedestals, microphones, speakers, materials for packaging, glass, frames, lighting and heating / cooling, friendly attitudes and smiles must fit into a part of the salary of a state, and so – few times a year.
GROUP SELF-PORTRAIT is an exhibition that invites artists to show the audience what the state shows them, and to respond an invitation to pose for group self-portrait.
What is our current identity? It is one of the Impossibility. What represents our Identity? What we are, almost nothing.
GROUP SELFPORTRAIT is an exhibition where no one exposes nothing. Why? Because “nothing” is a picture of our situation, so we have decided to record it, publicly.
Participating artists:
Akiko Sato, Aleksandar Beznović, Alem Korkut, Alen Floričić, Alexander Masters, Ana Petrović, Ana Zubak, Andrea Knezović, Andrea Knežević, Andro Grdinić, Antonio Hočevar, Antun Božičević, Anuška Alfirević, Armano Jeričević, Bernarda Cesar mag.ing.arch., Blaženka Perca, Bojan Miljančić, Bojana Švertasek, Boris Cvjetanović, Boris Greiner, Božena Končić Badurina, Damir Čargonja Čarli, Damir Sokić, Danko Friščić, Darko Bavoljak, Darko Kramer, Darko Staničić, Davor Mezak, Davor Sanvincenti, Dina Rončevć, Dominique Jurić, Duje Jurić, Duje Medić, Đorđe Jandrić, Ena Bajuk, Eugen Borkovsky, Feđa Gavrilović, Filip Pintarić mag.ing.arch. prof., Gildo Bavčević, Goga Bralić, Goran Ristić, Hrvoje Hiršl, Hrvoje Mitrov, Ida Ožbolt, Igor Eškinja, Igor Grubić, Igor Ilić, Igor Kuduz, Ilija Šoškić, Ingrid Runtić, Iva Cepanec, Iva Habus, Iva-Matija Bitanga, Ivan Dujmušić, Ivan Mesek, Ivana Dražić Selmani, Ivana Jelavić, Ivana Vratarić, Ivna Bruck, Ivona Vlašić, Jasenko Rasol, Jasmina Krajačić, Jelena Blagović, Jelena Lulić, Josip Dinko Domaćinović, Josip Kaniža, Josip Pino Ivančić, Josipa Bronić, Karmen Dada, Karolina Demirović, Karolina Pernar, Kata Mjatović, Kristina Babić, Krstijan Grđan, Krunislav Stojanovski, Lana Linda Fisković, Luka Bunić, Maja Marković, Maja Rožman, Mak Melcher, Milan Marčinko.., Marija Juza mag.art., Marija Knezić, Marija Koruga, Marijan Blažina , Marijan Crtalić, Marijana Bronić, Marko Ercegović, Marko Golub, Marko Marković, Marko Šošić, Marko Vojnić Gin, Martin Šatović, Martina Miholić, Mejra Mujičić, Melinda Šefčić, Melita Sorolla Staničić, Mihael Giba, Mirjana Vodopija, Monika Meglić , Morana Delač, Natalija Škalić, Nataša Kupljenik, Niina Martinuš, Nikola Pušonjić, Nikolina Ivezić, Nikolina Silla, Nina Iris Bešlić, Olja Stpanović, Petar Đakulović, Petar Grimani, Petar Popijač, Predrag Pavić, Rajko Radovanović, Ranko Balen, Rea Rakočević, Sandra Vitaljić, Sanja Jonjić, Sanja Švrljuga, Selma & Adam, Siniša Labrović, Sven Klobučar, Svjetlana Šalić, Tajči Čekada, Tamara Knezić, Tanja Dabo, Tanja Deman, Tea Hatadi, Tea Truta, Vanina Topić, Vanja Pagar, Vedran Perkov, Vesna Šantak, Vice Tomasović, Vinka Mortigjija Anušić, Vladimir Frelih, Vladimir Resner, Vlasta Gracin, Vlasta Žanić, Vlatko Vincek, Zdenko Radovanić, Zdravko Milić, Zoran Kakša, Zoran Pavelić, Željka Blaškić, Željka Gradski, Željko Badurina
06.07.2013.