International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana

The International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana carries out five interwoven and complementary activities out of which is world wide the most known the production of the graphic art biennials - in 2009 they organized already the 28th edition of Ljubljana International Biennial of Graphic Art. Further the Centre is frequenlty organizing other contemporary art exhibitions, is taking care about the preservation of Slovene and international collections of prints, artists’ books, art projects in magazines and on billboards, and other printed art materials - its collection from the 20th century to the present day. As fourth activity, it is housing the pritnig studios (the editing of print editions in the techniques of lithography, silkscreen and intaglio) and has in charge the education of the public about printing techniques.

History

Established in 1986, the International Centre of Graphic Arts (MGLC) is housed in Tivoli Mansion, at the end of the Plečnik »promenade« in the Tivoli park. The idea of establishing MGLC dates back to the mid 1970s and was advanced by the secretary of the International Graphics Biennials, Dr Zoran Kržišnik, then Director of the Museum of Modern Art Ljubljana. It was in fact a direct consequence of the development of International Graphic Art Biennials and the enormous growth of contemporary graphic art production in Slovenia during that period, especially represented by the so-called Ljubljana Graphic Art School. In 1981 the MGLC Foundation commenced its first activities and began to adapt the Tivoli Mansion to meet its needs. Then in 1987 MGLC moved from the Moderna galerija Ljubljana to the renovated Tivoli Mansion.

The Centre has run the Ljubljana International Biennial of Graphic Art since 1955; from the very beginning this was an important international exhibition covering graphic art from all over the world - in 1963 Robert Rauschenberg received the Grand Prix for Accident, a year before he received a prize at the Venice Biennale. The Biennial subsequently became the model for other graphic art biennials in the world, especially in Eastern Europe.

Collection

It has a collection of MGLC is housing a collection of fine art prints from the 20th century to the present day. It comprise over 3.600 fine art prints, 800 artists' books and numerous other art publications. The Centre's collection consists of extensive museum material (which expands along with the Biennials and through donations by the artists and acquisitions) and new art works produced in print workshops. It comprises art prints dating from 1955 and the work of a considerable number by representatives of the Ecole de Paris (including Zadkine, Picasso, Severini, Prassinos, Mansourof, Menassier, Atlan, Zao Wou-ki, Hartung, Hayter), along with the works of Yozo Hamaguchi, Pierre Soulages, Robert Rauschenberg, Victor Vasarely, Emilio Vedova, Arthur Luiz Piza, Maria Bonomi and representatives of Ljubljana Graphics School. The collection also includes an artist’s book of international and Slovene artists, including OHO, West East Publications edited by Franci Zagoričnik, Damien Hirst, Ben, Voiter, Boltansky, Lewitt, Opalka, Alberolla, Buren, Long, Roth, Reiner and Yves Klein.

In 2008 Mednarodni grafični likovni center acquired works of James Lee Byars (White Cube Book, 1983), Vesna Črnivec (Čevelj na kolesnicah, 1975), Gyorgi Galantay (My Transformation LXV/77, 1977), Janez Knez (Strojna tovarna Trbovlje, 1986), Tanja Lažetić ( Krompirjev list, 2008), Raul Meel (Singing Tree (Laulev Puu), 1970), Petra Varl (Spitfire, 1987) and work of Bernard Villers, Publishing house Remorqueur and Nouveau Remorqueur Archives (54 publications).

The collection (not exhibitions!) is open for viewing and study - by appointment only - on workdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Programme

In addition to the organisation of the Ljubljana International Biennial of Graphic Art,
the Centre organises regular art shows, including surveys of national artistic creativity and exhibitions by individual artists, often in collaboration with international institutions such as the British Council Slovenia and the French Cultural Institute Charles Nodier, Ljubljana. The Centre also participates in exhibitions abroad, eg the Contemporary Poster from Central and Eastern Europe exhibition in Vienna.

The Centre organises various community activities, including workshops in various graphic techniques (linocut, lithography or silkscreen workshop), fine arts workshops for children and adults in front of Tivoli Mansion, a traditional Graphic Art Flea, SOCREA: SOCialising and CREAtivity at Valentine's and a graffiti art workshop.

It also occasionally organises symposia, lectures and public discussions with invited artists, publishers, curators and experts from abroad and guided visits to accompany exhibitions.

Printing Studios

Publications

External Links

International Centre of Graphic Arts Website

International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana

Contents

History

Collection

Programme

Printing Studios

Publications

See also

External Links

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