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“Art and Life are One” – The Association of Artists Zemlja, Ideology and Artist Networking

The Association of Artists Zemlja, which had the most specified programme and maintained the most consistent group cohesion in Croatian interwar art, was founded in 1929. The inaugural thought in the title of this presentation – “Art and life are one” – is the last sentence in the Association Zemlja's Manifesto, published in the catalogue of the Association's first exhibition and devised by the architect Drago Ibler. The reasons for founding the Association of Artists Zemlja were manifold. First of all, in the second half of the 1920s, the Spring Salon – as a platform where artists of the younger generation could achieve their recognition and as a central place of networking for the national art scene – was turned into a routine sales exhibition event which, for many artists, did not provide enough of a challenge. Secondly, the social, economic and political situation in Croatia – as a part of the multinational Yugoslav state – created a need for a more substantial engagement of artists, the formation of art groups and networks, which, in the case of the Association of Artists Zemlja, resulted in the articulation of afirmly set and clearly formulated art programme. The Association of Artists Zemlja significantly differed from the Spring Salon, which, in its twelve years of existence, acted as an open platform for expressing various artistic orientations. In other words, after the Spring Salon, unburdened by any ideological connotations, Zemlja appeared as its exact opposite. Motivated by its commitment to the politically pronounced left-wing orientation and social engagement, the Association emphasized the necessity of connecting art with contemporary life and social issues. As its main objective, the ideological basis of the Association’s programme emphasized the achievement of “independence” of the national artistic expression, primarily by fiercely opposing the uncritical emulation of artistic paragons from European centres. Furthermore, in its programme, the Association of Artists Zemlja recognized the need for creating networks through collaboration – at home and abroad – with the ideologically affiliated individuals and groups. This presentation will touch upon the ideological foundation of the Association of Artists Zemlja and, within this context, it will also analyse the features and outcomes of the clearly pronounced aspirations of its members for establishing artist networks.

Association of Artists Zemlja; Ideology; Artist Networking; Croatian Modern Art; Krsto Hegedušić

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