Goran Trbuljak, one of Croatia’s most significant conceptual artists, has never entered the new building of the MSU until this exhibition. Following a re-invitation to hold an exhibition, he decided to accept it, but only after thoroughly elaborating his ‘pro’ and ‘con’ arguments with a text which he self-published last year: “Some thoughts and doubts on the topic of my current and potential future relationship with the Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb”.
And yet, even then it was not absolutely certain that he would enter the Museum and hold an exhibition, i.e., whether he would hold an exhibition without entering the Museum, or whether he would enter the Museum without holding an exhibition.
Having decided to risk the achieved status of being, as he himself stated, “the only contemporary Croatian artist who has never entered the MSU, who has never exhibited there despite having been invited, and who may perhaps, at least as such, make history, as some have advised me,” he rejected most of the tactical (pro)positions for retreat – which seemed relatively easily feasible – while those which seemed fictional he started turning into reality.
By skilfully juggling the opposing concepts, with his new exhibition Goran Trbuljak (1948) re-confronts us – in his critical and self-critical, humorous and quite serious manner – with essential questions on the artist and the art of before, now, and never.
Exhibition curator: Radmila Iva Janković
Goran Trbuljak: If I Were an Artist, I Would Be a Genius*
2 July – 8 September 2024
Temporary exhibition space, 1st and 2nd floor
* a statement quoted and adopted
