POMURJE

This year, artistic initiatives of Pomurje are the focus of the annual exhibition cycle Ljubljana Bows to Slovenia. A short overview of local creativity revealed the fact that the Mura river is a powerful symbol but as a geographical dividing line is not as strong as it once was. And despite the initial idea of a gallery presentation of contemporary Prekmurje art, the geography did not hold up, which is probably also a consequence of open European borders. The openness of the country on both banks of Mura and its cultural and linguistic diversity are also evident in the fluidity of art practices between regions and the four bordering countries.

The artists are connected by staying informed about each other’s production, but at the same time they are dispersed through private art milieus, workshops, offices and ateliers in both Radgonas, the Goričko region, Murska Sobota, Ljutomer, Lendava, … People of Pomurje are characterised by the historically wind-swept Pannonian Plain, so they enter creative endeavours with a somewhat reserved prudence. Their artworks are therefore multi-layered, profound and intimately expressive.

The exhibition does not look for archetypal characteristics of regional clichés thematising the horizon, the plain, the road, the river, fields, trees, storks, vases, villages and such on through melancholy, tragedy, loneliness or transience. Even though these archetypes are present in some of the artists works, they are not necessarily connected to the genius loci. The exhibition offers a glimpse into contemporary artistic production of the last six years without any limitations regarding motive, medium or style.

The selection of artists tried to expand beyond a small number of flagship individuals on which regional cultural identity is built, as well as artists who were born in the region but primarily live and work elsewhere. Artists Matjaž Geder, Cvetka Hojnik, Robert Jurak, Črtomir Just, Ferenc Király, Matej Končan – Kleemar, Nataša Kos, Katja Pál, Jim Pavlica, Zdravko Pravdič and the association Društvo prekmurske pobude ONEJ, Gregor Purgaj, Mirko Rajnar and Eva Žula actually live and work in Pomurje and from there they spread their cultural impact.

Jani Pirnat