Lokacija: Galerija umjetnina Split (Ulica kralja Tomislava 15, 21000 Split)

POHVALA RUCI

kustosica: Iris Slade

Trajanje izložbe: 18. 5. – 2. 7. 2023.

Tematska izložba, bez obzira na vrstu eksponata, obim i kompleksnost, čest je izlagački format. Što se tiče likovne umjetnosti, u praksi je potvrđeno da svaki segment umjetničkog djela odnosno djelovanja može biti predmetom interesa i postati selektivnim faktorom. U stvarnom ili virtualnom svijetu posjećujemo izložbe čije su specifične teme ekstrahirane iz tematskog, motivskog ili likovnog sadržaja djela. Izložba Pohvala ruci fokus stavlja na prikaz ruku. Nacrtane, naslikane ili izvedene u grafičkim tehnikama važan su detalj svake od dvadeset figuralnih kompozicija iz fundusa Galerije umjetnina. Kako je riječ o različitim autorima, tema izložbe nije samo navedeni motiv već i njegova interpretacija, jer u prikazu ruku umjetnici u pravilu ostavljaju prepoznatljiv autorski biljeg.

Tema je potaknuta esejom Éloge de la main (Pohvala ruci) u knjizi Vie des formes (Život oblika) Henrija Focillona, prvi put objavljene 1934. godine. Focillonov esej zadivljujući je panegirik ruci zahvaljujući kojoj je čovjek postao to što jest u punini svoga djelovanja. Dosljedan svojoj profesiji povjesničara umjetnosti, autor poglavito razmatra ulogu ruku u likovnom stvaralaštvu. Svijest o njihovoj važnosti egzistira još od doba pećinskih slikarija. Otisci dlanova naših dalekih predaka njihovi su najneposredniji artificijelni tragovi prisutnosti i identifikacijski znakovi. Ruke su kroz povijest bile presudne u manifestiranju likovnog umijeća čiji se dosezi uvelike ogledaju upravo u interpretaciji tog osobitog dijela ljudskog tijela, bilo da je riječ o samostalnom motivu ili detalju figurativnog prikaza. Među brojnim maestralnim realizacijama prisjetimo se nekih od najpoznatijih primjera, poput nebrojeno puta reproduciranog Dürerovog crteža Ruke u molitvi i detalja s Božjom i Adamovom rukom na Michelangelovoj fresci Stvaranje Adama ili suptilno naslikanih, preklopljenih ruku Leonardove Mona Lise, kao i vrsno oblikovanih i impostiranih ruku Rodinove skulpture Mislilac.

Za izložbu Pohvala ruci iz muzejskog fundusa odabrano je dvadeset umjetničkih djela, slika, crteža, grafika i karikatura čiji su autori većinom prominentni hrvatski moderni umjetnici: Portret Frane Bollanija (1884.) Vlaha Bukovca, Sveti Jeronim (studija, do 1901.) Mata Celestina Medovića, Karikatura Josipa Hatzea (oko 1910.) Emanuela Vidovića, Ruski balet (1912.) Miroslava Kraljevića, Portret Ljube Wiesnera (1916.) Ljube Babića, Portret Ive Ćipika (1917.) Vladimira Becića, Portret Noe Matošića (1917.) Silvija Bonaccija Čike, Grabancijaš odnosno Portret J. Matošića (1919.) Jerolima Miše, Djevojka s lutnjom (1920.) Ivana Meštrovića, Portret Danka Anđelinovića (1920.) Marina Tartaglie, karikatura 'Nestor u penziji' – Ivan Rendić (1922.) Angjela Uvodića, Poljubac (1923.) Tomislava Krizmana, Za stolom (1923.) Marijana Trepšea, Pudar (1925.) Jurja Plančića, Ženski akt (1927.) Antuna Augustinčića, U kazalištu (1927.) Vjekoslava Paraća, Autoportret s crvenim rupcem (1930.) Cate Gattin-Dujšin (Dujšin-Ribar), Tučnjava u krčmi (1932.) Ignjata Joba, Komedijaši (1935.) Vilima Svečnjaka i Strančari (1939.) Antuna Zuppe (Zupa).

Više informacija dostupno je na https://www.galum.hr/izlozbe/izlozba/1771/.

Location: Museum of Fine Arts (Ulica kralja Tomislava 15, 21000 Split)

IN PRAISE OF THE HAND

curated by Iris Slade

Duration: May 18 – July 2, 2023

Thematic exhibitions are a common format, regardless of the type, scope, or complexity of exhibits. In the visual arts, it has been confirmed by practice that every segment of a work of art or activity can be an object of interest and become a selective factor. In the real or virtual worlds, we often visit exhibitions that extract their specific themes from the thematic, motivic, or artistic content of the works on display. The exhibition In Praise of the Hand focuses on the depiction of hands in art. Drawn, painted, or executed in graphic techniques, they are an important detail of each of the twenty figural compositions from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts. As these come from different artists, the theme of the exhibition is not only the said motif of hands, but also its interpretation, as artists leave a recognizable signature in the way they depict hands.

The theme of the exhibition was inspired by Henri Focillon’s essay “Éloge de la main” (In Praise of the Hand) in his book Vie des formes (The Life of Forms), first published in 1934. Focillon’s essay is a stunning panegyric to the hand, which enabled man to become what he is in the fullness of his activity. Consistent with his profession as an art historian, the author mainly considered the role of hands in artworks, but their importance has been recognized since the age of cave paintings. The palm imprints of our distant ancestors are their most immediate artificial traces of presence and their identification signs. Throughout history, hands have been crucial in manifesting artistic expression, the reach of which has been largely reflected in the interpretation of that specific part of the human body, whether as an independent motif or a detail in figurative representation. Among the many masterful realizations, one should recall some of the most famous examples, such as Dürer’s drawing of Hands in Prayer, which has been reproduced countless times, the detail with God’s and Adam’s hands in Michelangelo’s fresco The Creation of Adam, the subtly painted, folded hands of Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, and the exquisitely shaped and positioned hands of Rodin’s sculpture The Thinker.

Twenty works of art – paintings, drawings, graphics, and caricatures, mostly by prominent Croatian modern artists – have been selected from the museum collection for the exhibition: Portrait of Frane Bollani (1884) by Vlaho Bukovac, Saint Jerome (study, to 1901) by Mato Celestin Medović, Caricature of Josip Hatze (ca. 1910) by Emanuel Vidović, Russian Ballet (1912) by Miroslav Kraljević, Portrait of Ljubo Wiesner (1916) by Ljubo Babić, Portrait of Ivo Ćipiko (1917) by Vladimir Becić, Portrait of Noe Matošić (1917) by Silvije Bonacci Čiko, Wandering Scholar, or Portrait of J. Matošić (1919) by Jerolim Miše, Girl with a Lute (1920) by Ivan Meštrović, Portrait of Danko Anđelinović (1920) by Marino Tartaglia, caricature “Nestor in Retirement” – Ivan Rendić (1922) by Angjeo Uvodić, The Kiss (1923) by Tomislav Krizman, At the Table (1923) by Marijan Trepše, Guarding the Crops (1925) by Juraj Plančić, Female Nude (1927) by Antun Augustinčić, At the Theatre (1927) by Vjekoslav Parać, Self-Portrait with a Red Scarf (1930) by Cata Gattin-Dujšin (Dujšin-Ribar), Fight in the Tavern (1932) by Ignjat Job, Comedians (1935) by Vilim Svečnjak, and Party Liners (1939) by Antun Zuppa (Zupa).

More information is available at https://www.galum.hr/en/exhibitions/exibition/1771/.