Mladen Stilinović’s third solo exhibition in Gallery Nova titled Red – Pink: Reflections on Colour is curated by curator and art historian Branka Stipančić. The exhibition is a continuation of her collaboration with the WHW collective. In the Gallery Nova program in the past 15 years, she has presented the exhibitions of Dimtrije Bašičević Mangelos, Josip Vaništa, On unknowns works, among others.

Forty-two years after Stilinović’s solo exhibition Sing! (1980) at the Gallery of Contemporary Art in Zagreb, this exhibition reconstructs two works by the artist: Red and Pink ambiences that were supposed to be realized in 1980. Even though they were not realized, they were mentioned in the catalogue which contained pasted samples of red and pink fabric that was to be used for covering the walls of two rooms. In the catalogue, Stilinović contextualized this work in the framework of his interest and reflections on colours that he uses to examine, in his own words “the meaning of the relation between colour and material – colour as a sensation and – colour as a symbol”. Stilinović wanted to bring his reflections on colour to a representative form, and to surround visitors entirely with red and pink colours. Curator Davor Matičević described these works in the exhibition catalogue in 1980: ˝Using a cheap but striking fabric, the glossy and shining synthetic satin, by means of the experience of sensation, but also through one of many possible meanings, he has come close to objects that are pregnant with meaning (almost symbols) – such as flags or the curtain of a provincial theatre. In doing so, a potential interpretation reveals the colour pink to be washed out or softened red – softened in order to achieve likeability and enticement. However, the loss of intensity is inevitably accompanied by the loss of meaning“.

Stilinović researched the identity of red and pink in the 1970s in words, materials and images, and he questioned the common understanding of the colours. Persisting on a de-ideologized use of colour, as explained in the text Consumption of Red-Pink (published in the handmade exhibition catalogue in Podrum in 1979), Stilinović uses red in various works in an attempt to de-idologize it, to reduce it to a simple colour. Corny, rococo pink stands in the ideological contrast to red: „petit bourgeoisie“ opposed to „revolution“. The exhibition includes workshops with participants of different age groups, which rethink the meanings of these colours.  

Mladen Stilinović (1947 – 2016) was a post-conceptual artist, one of the most exhibited Croatian artists on the international contemporary art scene. In his work, Stilinović researched complex themes of correlation among ideology, labour, money, language and pain. He exhibited in prestigious international exhibitions and biennials such as Venice Biennial and Documenta, and his works are a part of many museum collections.  

We would like to thank Galerija P-74 in Ljubljana, where the exhibition was realized in April 2021.

Lecture by Branka Stipančić is a part of the project History of Art and Society: Artistic Ecologies. Guided tours are a part of the project Communities of learning.

The workshops on the meaning of red and pink are a part of the program Cycle of Approaching.

The program is supported by:
Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia
City Office for Culture, International Relations and Civil Society
Kultura Nova Foundation