The seventh edition of this nationally important event, the Biennial of Painting and the guest exhibition of Lithuanian artists will open its doors at the Home of Croatian Association of Fine Artists, the renowned Meštrović Pavilion at 19:00 on 25 October 2023.

The Biennial of Painting presents a broad cross-section of generations actively shaping the Croatian painting scene, with the aim of documenting the current biennial production. Traditionally, the Biennial of Painting has also hosted an exhibition of foreign artists, which, following the concept of a guest curator, presents a cross-section of the painting scene of a European city (2011/Berlin, 2013/Vienna, 2015/Gdansk, 2017/Prague, 2019/Leipzig, 2021/Dublin). This year’s Biennial juxtaposes the Croatian painting scene with the Lithuanian painting scene through the exhibition titled Floating Identity: Between a Recognizable Image and Abstraction, curated by Remigijus Venckus.

 

Recognizing the need for broader representation and advocacy of artistic endeavours within the medium of painting, this year’s Biennial extends beyond the Meštrović Pavilion, with a portion of the program taking place at three additional venues. At the Vranyczany Palace on Berislavićeva Street (home to the Croatian History Museum), in collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, the exhibition ‘ALuZija’ will be presented, featuring a selection of paintings of the final-year students and alumni of the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. At the Canvas Gallery, the exhibition titled Flower Market / Tržnica cvijeća will be on display, a solo exhibition by Matko Vekić, the Grand Prix winner of the 6th Painting Biennial. Meanwhile, the inclusive art gallery, Art&CeRZe, will present an exhibition featuring professional artists and users from the Zagreb Rehabilitation Centre.

More than 100 artists will be showcased within the main selection and additional exhibition programs.

Visitors, besides enjoying the exhibitions, can participate in numerous educational, inclusive and discursive activities. Highlights include guided tours of murals in public spaces (VMD Park kneževa, Zagreb University Hospital Centre — Rebro), guided tours for adults, guided tours for children and young people accompanied by educational booklets, art workshops for all ages, artists meet and greet in their studios, and inclusive art workshops.

In January 2024, prizes funded by private donors will be granted for the most outstanding achievements as part of the Biennial. The official competition will award a Grand Prix worth EUR 4,500.00 gross, and a prize for a young artist valued at EUR 3,000.00 gross. Thanks to an anonymous philanthropist, an out-of-competition award, the Kontrapunkt Award Vladimir Dodig Trokut_Iva Vraneković, Artists to Artist, will also be awarded in the amount of EUR 2,222.00 net.

 

MAIN EXHIBITION PROGRAM:

7th Biennial of Painting
25 October 2023 – 26 January 2024
Home of the Croatian Association of Fine Artists/Meštrović Pavilion, Trg žrtava fašizma 16
Ring Gallery, PM Gallery
The jury of the 7th Biennial of Painting, consisting of Tomislav Buntak, Fedor Fischer, Koraljka Kovač, Željko Marciuš, Martina Miholić, Josip Zanki, selected 42 artists based on the competition and invited 6 artists.

Artists 

 

Guest Exhibition of Lithuanian Artists
Floating Identity: Between a Recognisable Image and Abstraction
Curated by Prof. Remigijus Venckus, Ph.D.
25 October 2023 – 26 January 2024

Home of the Croatian Association of Fine Artists/Meštrović Pavilion, Trg žrtava fašizma 16
Bačva Gallery

Artists
Curatorial Concept

 

ADDITIONAL EXHIBITION PROGRAMS

Matko Vekić: ‘Flower Market / Tržnica cvijeća’
10 – 17 November 2023
Opening on 10 November 2023 at 19.00
Canvas Gallery

 

Exhibition of students of the Academy of Fine Arts: ‘ALUsion’
08 November 2023 – 14 January 2024
Opening on 08 November 2023 at 19:00
Vranyczany Palace (Croatian History Museum), Berislavićeva 6
Organized by: Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb

 

ART4ALL, Exhibition of Professional Artists and Users of the Zagreb Rehabilitation Centre, and the Opening of the Inclusive Art Gallery ‘Art&CeRZe’

21 November 2023 –  22 December 2023
Opening on 21 November 2023 at 18:00 h
Art&CeRZe Gallery, Kneza Mislava Street 11
Organized by: Zagreb Rehabilitation Center