Book Description

The Fantastical World of Croatian Naïve Art is part of the Museum's mission of presenting the very best examples of world art to our visitors and celebrates the beginning of a new millennium. This exhibition is an ideal way to look back at the end of a century, which saw the collapse of the Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the breakup of communist Europe. Two events in particular inspired this exhibition. The first was Croatia's declaration of independence in 1991, which allowed me to return to my country and to meet with museum professionals, government officials, and the naïve artists themselves. The second was the beginning of a new millennium and the opportunity to bring the two countries I love closer together and to present this extraordinary tradition to a larger audience. Croatian naïve art was a perfect choice, as these paintings vividly explore cultural memories. While these paintings were created by artists often removed from the larger art world, it is perhaps surprising that so many of them are anything but insular. While rooted in Croatian rural life, many are clearly fascinated by and want to be connected to Europe and America. The Croatian naïve artists have played a critical role in how Croatia as a nation has been and continues to be imagined, for those living in and outside the country. These paintings can also be admired independently of cultural issues. Croatian naïve art has repeatedly been recognized by curators and scholars as some of the most imaginative and technically accomplished naïve or folk art in the world. Much of it counters the designation "naïve," as it is quite sophisticated. That label simply means that these paintings have been created by largely self-taught artists and that they often take as their point of inspiration life in the fields and villages. - Michael Milkovich, Director, pages 8-10.