Zoran Mušič (1909–2005)

Zoran Mušič (Bukovica, 1909 – Venice, 2005) is the first modernist Slovenian painter to have found recognition in the West.

Master of painting, graphic arts and drawing, he spent most of his adult life between Venice and Paris. He painted landscapes, still lifes, portraits, Dalmatian donkeys and horses, trees, cityscapes of Venice, double portraits of himself and his wife Ida, and poignant self-portraits in his old age. He constantly related his motifs to the Kras and scenes from karstic areas. However, he became world-famous with his series of paintings We Are Not the Last in which he re-experienced his own ordeal in the concentration camp of Dachau.

Displayed is the only permanent retrospective exhibition of works by Zoran Mušič which was kindly made possible by the family of the artist's brother. The majority of the exhibited works come from the art collection of Ljuban, Milada and Vanda Mušič, donated or given on loan to the National Gallery of Slovenia. The collection covers the artist's production from 1935 through 1999, that is from the works he painted shortly after he had completed the academy in Zagreb to those he created in his last series. Due to the sensitivity of works on paper, the selection of exhibits varies at a few months' intervals.

Project leader
Mateja Krapež

Selection of exhibits and exhibition concept
Barbara Jaki, Mateja Krapež, Andrej Smrekar, Gojko Zupan

Visual and graphic exhibition design
Ranko Novak

Conservation and restoration
Tina Buh, Andrej Hirci, Miha Pirnat, Simona Škorja

English translation
Alenka Klemenc, Michel Mohor