How do geometric and organic representation relate to each other, and where does abstraction fit in the context of fine and applied art? The 145th anniversary of the Museum of Arts and Crafts (MUO) in Zagreb provides an opportunity to revisit some fundamental questions about the nature and development of art.
The exhibition, co-organised by HAB and MUO, focuses on two distinct yet complementary artistic languages of geometric and organic abstraction. Visitors will gain an insight into the tradition of Croatian constructivism and experimental art, with a special emphasis on the work of the EXAT 51 group and the New Tendency movement, which opened up new dimensions in optical, kinetic and programmatic art.
The exhibition also focuses on organic abstraction, which explores the relationship between natural forms and the inner world through an intuitive and material-centred approach. Biomorphic structures and works in ceramics, textiles and glass represent a sensitive dialogue between artists and materials, often drawing on motifs from the plant, the animal or the human body.