EXHIBITION OF NAÏVE ART FROM KOVACICA, YUGOSLAVIA

AT THE EMBASSY OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC IN LONDON

 

 

Like many European countries, Slovakia and Yugoslavia have long recognised the contribution that their self-taught Naïve artists make to their respective cultures.  There is genuine public support for exhibitions of their work, and there are many venues for this.  There are medals, awards and prizes to be won, and through multimedia exposure, the international community is able to access the outstanding work produced by ordinary citizens who are driven to paint.

 

Such is not the case here in England of course, where Naïve artists strain to make their voices heard above the babble of Turner Prize sycophants, and the self-congratulatory praise of the BritArt fraternity.  Neither of these truly reflects the heart and soul of the country, and both are quite deaf to the derisive laughter of the population as a whole.

 

How refreshing, therefore, that the London Embassy of the Slovak Republic should join forces with the London Embassy of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and jointly present a major exhibition of Naïve paintings by Slovak artists living in the isolated Yugoslavian village of Kovacica. 

 

What a superb cultural statement of support each is making with this outstanding presentation of over 40 works by leaders in the genre: Alzbeta Cizikova and her sister Eva Husarikova, Jozef Havjar, Jan Glozik and the gentle rural giant, Jan Bacur – all of whom were flown over for the private view on January 30th at the Slovak Embassy, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens.

 

It was indeed a rare event, and a pleasure to be invited along to represent the voice of the New British Naives.  I’ve had long contact with Kovacica, and it was good to put faces to paintings at last, and to receive support from both the Ambassadors and the artists for our plans at MisterDenham.com to establish a National Museum of Naïve Art here in the UK.

 

The technical standard of all the work is quite remarkable.  Each piece is bright, cheerful and understandable, with Glozik’s rural scenes bearing a resemblance to Generalic’s Hinterglasmalerei masterpieces – though Glozik paints on canvas.   There is no pretence or artistic sleight of hand to be seen anywhere here, just pure bucolic honesty in portraying the artist’s environment, lifestyle and heritage.  What more could be asked?

 

The exhibition ran until the 1st March 2002, and was well received by the many  visitors to the Embassy.            

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS OF THE ARTISTS.

 

JAN GLOZIK was born in Kovacica in 1957. Impressed by the paintings of the Kovacican naïve artists, he started painting as a schoolboy. Unaware of oil painting techniques he turned to the renowned Zuzana Chalupova for assistance. Under her skilful guidance he made his first picture on canvas in 1974. At that time the Club of Kovacica Young Artists was established. Glozik’s pictures were always included in the traditional Club annual exhibition, held in May. Jan participated in collective exhibitions in Kovacica in 1983 and in Pancevo 1989. In mid 1980s he held his first one-man exhibition, followed by a further six. As a member of Kovacica Naïve Painters Group, Gloznik has been regularly showing his work at exhibitions at home and abroad.

His paintings depict the life of peasants working in fields or in a household, customs related to the life in the country, and celebrations. His latest work is focused on the arrival of his ancestors to his native place.

 

 

ALZBETA CIZIKOVA was born in Kovacica in l936. She began to paint at an early age and since l954 she has been exhibiting. Cizikova is one of the most striking authentic artists of naïve art in Kovacica.

“I began to paint spontaneously like a child starting to speak or sing.
Painting seems to be a game for me – it is my toy.”

She had fifty-one solo exhibitions and more than eight hundred collective exhibitions in Yugoslavia and abroad. She has exhibited in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Skoplje, London, Paris, Amersford, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Turin, Milan, Munich, Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Bucharest, Washington, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Singapore.

Cizikova uses different painting techniques: oil on canvas, pastel, watercolour, ink on paper, decorating ceramics.

She also illustrates books and designs posters – she was awarded the Ljudovit Michatek Medal.  Some of her many other awards are:

1979 – The Amersford city Medal

1989 – The Golden Medal at the International exhibition in Debeljaca

1993 – Special award at the Sixth Biennale of Yugoslav Naïve Art in Jagodina

1996 - Diploma of the gallery De Arte Do Kasino Estoril, Xvii Salao National De Pintura “Haif”’ in Lisbon, Portugal

1999 – The highest award for her life’s work at the IX International Biennale in Jagodina

1999 – The October Award in Kovacica

“I have marked a Slovakian spirit in my pictures. I was trying to save their values, customs and tradition from falling into oblivion. It makes me happy to think that the mentality and typical features of my people will be recorded on my pictures.”

 

 

EVA HUSARIKOVA was born in Kovacica in l942. She started to paint in l969.

“I am beginning to paint encouraged by drawings of my children at school. I wanted to help them.”

Husarikova’s artistic development continued in the specific spirit of naïve art that Kovacica is famous for. Eva paints young people wearing national costumes, childhood and girlhood events, people working in fields, winter nights, Kovacica covered with snow, the interior of the peasant houses. In general, she depicts tranquil country life.

“After so many years of painting, I still have an affection for painting
because it gives me courage for every new day,
 so all my spare time is filled up with colours with a paintbrush in my hand.”

She had fourteen solo and about three hundred collective exhibitions. Among many awards is the Special Award at the Seventh Biennale of Naïve Art in Jagodina.

 

 

JAN BACUR was born on 22 October 1937 in Padina, founded in 1806 by Slovaks who came from the Novohrad region. His parents were farmers, as were all Slovaks who came to the region to work the land and brought spiritual wealth from their home country. And they have been preserving and developing it to the present time. Jan Bacur inherited his talent from his mother who used to decorate walls of houses in Padina. He was captivated by painting in his childhood and developed his talent at the secondary school in Kovacica. There, as a schoolboy he saw the artwork of already reputable naïve artists, and this gave him even more strength and determination to continue in that direction. Thanks to his apparent talent he first took part in a collective exhibition in Padina at the age of 13. On the Kovacica October he exhibited for the first time in 1962 as a guest. In 1985 he became a full member of Kovacica Naïve Art Gallery. From that time he has behind him 28 independent exhibitions in his country and abroad, and also he was a part of many artists colonies.

"I paint slowly and quietly. I do my best to let young generations know how our people used to live and work in the past."

The subject of his work is connected with the streets and fields of his native Padina. The accuracy of the rural architecture of his birthplace is remarkable. His paintings reflect preserved old customs, beauty and the spirit of the old times. The spirit of Slovak nationality is still clearly shown on the national costumes of the people depicted.

 

 

JOZEF HAVJAR was born in Kovacica in1956 and still lives there. He graduated from secondary technical school in Pancevo. At present he works for the company "Jednota" Kovacica. Jozef Havjar has been interested in painting since childhood, when he first got acquainted with watercolours. He started painting in oil on canvas in 1993, and since then he has participated in several group and individual exhibitions. His paintings were included in the XVII exhibition of naïve arts in Lisbon. In Portugal he also exhibited in 1997 and 1998. He has participated in group exhibitions in Belgrade, at the fine art gallery of Military Academy Hospital in 1996 and at the Russian house in 1998. His first solo exhibition took place in Kovacica and his second one was organised in Stara Pazova. Jozef is a natural self-taught painter and so far he is not a member of any association of painters.

 

More information on Alzbeta Cizikova and Eva Husarikova can be found through our Links page. Click on Yuart.