Middle Ages and Renaissance
The medieval period is dominated by religious arts. If the Romanesque art left few traces, the Gothic style lasted after the beginning of the Renaissance. The gothic painting left superb frescoes of which those of thechurch Saint-Jean-Baptiste of Bohinj or the Dance of Death of thechurch of the Holy Trinity of Hrastovlje. The Nardona Galerija, or National Gallery of Slovenia, exhibits splendid original fragments. In the works of this period, Nordic influences blend harmoniously with southern models. Numerous medieval sculpture workshops provided reliefs and sculptures for altar adornment. The highlight of Gothic sculpture in Slovenia is the work of the Ptuj workshop, represented in the collection by the Beautiful Madonna and Pietà of Podsreda. In the 16th century, production declined due to Turkish invasions, peasant revolts and Protestantism, which were not conducive to fine arts.
From Mannerism to Baroque
Although imported works and those of itinerant artists prevailed in the early Baroque period, the 17th century laid the foundation for the future. Slovenian sculpture of this century is dominated by golden altars, usually polychrome altarpieces carved on wood. They are decorated with vines, which evolved into acanthus leaves, under which the architectural forms eventually disappeared. Several techniques were involved in the creation of gilded altars: graphics, sculpture, gilding, painting. The second half of the century saw the blossoming of genre painting and portraits of the nobility.
The period of the mature Baroque marks the second peak of art in Slovenia. Artistic creation flourished in a stable political environment and favorable economic conditions. Italian guest artists participated in the development of all artistic fields. The Venetian sculptor Francesco Robba, who produced both religious and secular works, took center stage. In Ljubljana, he was the author of the Three Rivers of Carniola fountain in the town square, the angels in St. Nicholas Cathedral and the altar in St. James Church.Rococo and Neoclassicism
The late Baroque saw the birth of more ethereal secular images. The use of color and light evolved into rococo. In the collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia
, this turn is represented by the works of the Venetian Nicol Grassi, Valentin Metzinger from Ljubljana, and his successor Anton Cebej, who shows a particular attachment to Venetian influences. Franc Kavčič is an important representative of European neoclassicism. Although he depicts stories from Greco-Roman antiquity, his message reflects the social changes of his time. In the first half of the 19th century, Kavčič's painting influenced his many Viennese students.From the Biedermeier to the present day
In Central Europe, social changes are expressed in a style called Biedermeier. Coming from the decorative arts, Biedermeier reflects a comfortable, bourgeois lifestyle that is felt in all the arts. The portraiture reached its peak under the brushes of Matevž Langus, Jozef Tominc, Mihael Stroj and Anton Karinger. In the 19th century, the impressionist painter Rihard Jakopič (1869-1943) and the pointillist Ivan Grohar (1867-1911) stood out. At the beginning of the 20th century, international art movements became entangled with the national tradition. The National Gallery of Slovenia
is again the museum to go to in order to discover these different trends.After the Second World War, art became an instrument of propaganda. Under Tito, sculptors such as Jakob Savinšek and Lojze Dolinar nevertheless managed to combine their artistic sensibility with socialist realism.
Zoran Mušič (1909-2005), a Slovenian painter and engraver, moved away from the mainstream when he settled in France. His career is determined by the year he spent in Dachau. The drawings he made during his deportation are invaluable witnesses to the horror of the camps. His works can be seen in the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Galerija or MG), located at the entrance to the huge Tivoli Park. It works with the Museum of Contemporary Art
(+MSUM). The former focuses on Slovenian art from the beginnings of modernism: painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, photographs and videos. The second encompasses all contemporary visual art practices, including the Arteast 2000+ collection of avant-garde works from Eastern Europe from 1960 to the present. Good to know: a multitude of energetic art galleries provide a complementary look at the Slovenian art scene. If we had to name only one, it would probably be the Equrna Gallery.Showcase of alternative art
Last time I checked, street art
is not completely legal in Slovenia. However, in some areas, it is part of the landscape. The most telling example is Metelkova mesto, a truly autonomous cultural center that occupies former military barracks. After Slovenia's independence, the 12,500-square-meter complex was saved from demolition by local protests. The former soldiers' quarters have been converted into exhibition galleries, workshops, concert halls and bars by young artists. Sculptures made of recycled materials, diverted objects, mosaics, paintings, graffiti and stickers abound in this almost dreamlike setting. The basketball court of Metelkova seems to welcome less sportsmen than graffiti artists. During your excursion, think that you are the lucky spectator of an exhibition that will change in the next days. This alternative place has even thought about small budgets by building a youth hostel in the former military prison of the neighborhood. Metelkova is also known as a place of tolerance for many minorities. Here, art brings everyone together regardless of their origins and preferences.A second alternative venue is Rog Factory, which has been located in a former bicycle factory since 2006, although it is threatened with eviction. The place is divided into two parts: artistic workshops open to the public and a place for people in precarious situations. Whatever happens, this space brimming with creativity and generosity will mark the history of the city.
Don't worry, urban art decorates the streets and buildings of every city in the country. Everywhere, it offers an exhilarating visual counterpoint to the minimalist tradition of the capital.
