Minister Gordan Jandroković and Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria Dr. Michael Spindelegger opened an exhibition entitled Ars Croatiae

In his introductory address, Minister Jandroković said that the exhibition Ars Croatiae, presented to the Austrian cultural public with exceptional success, was now inaugurated and presented to admirers of modern Croatian art in Zagreb, symbolizing the scope of relations linking and interconnecting Croatia and Austria.

The exhibited works are just a smaller part of the rich collection of Austrian collector Dr. Alfred Brogyányi, which encompasses more than 400 works of art and is the largest and most valuable collection of Croatian modern art abroad. Ars Croatiae includes some eighty paintings and sculptures by 23 most renowned Croatian artists, such as Edo Murtić, Vojin Bakić, Nives Kavurić-Kurtić, Stipe Nobilo, Dušan Džamonja, Zlatko Keser, Đuro Pulitika, Petar Barišić and many others.

Minister Jandroković accentuated that Dr. Alfred Brogyányi succeeded in assembling a collection which was an emblematic representation of modern Croatian visual arts. He added that the exhibition as well as the entire collection of Dr. Brogyányi was exceptional because the paintings and sculptures had not been selected on the basis of their stylistic appurtenance but as expressions of individual artists’ personalities and for the reason that their individuality had awakened a desire to discover Croatian artistic heritage.

The inauguration of this exhibition in Vienna provided us with an opportunity to present a part of our rich visual arts tradition to the Austrian public, and thus once again provide insight into the cultural identity of our country, emphasized Minister Jandroković in his address. In the conclusion Minister said that endorsement for projects like this exhibition will continue with the aim of better acquainting the general public in Europe and in the world with Croatian art and culture. Minister solicited the visitors of the exhibition at the Modern Gallery to follow the example of Dr. Brogyányi and embark on a discovery of new horizons of Croatian artistic achievements of the second half of the 20th century.