Danubiana (source: Sme)
BRATISLAVA has quite a unique phenomenon in its close vicinity: the Museum of Modern Art Danubiana, which lies amidst natural scenery on an artificial peninsula of the river Danube near the Čunovo white-water complex.
The gallery also includes sculptures of famous Slovak and foreign artists in an outdoor park (El Lissiczky, Magdalena Abakanowitz, Jim Dine, Hans van de Bovenkamp, Jozef Jankovič, J. C. Farhi, Vladimír Kompánek, Rudolf Uher) which add a special value to the indoor spaces.
Recently, Danubiana underwent reconstruction, and the space was enhanced to house both a permanent collection of the Dutch founder and art lover, Gerard Hendrik Meulensteen (co-founder is Slovak gallerist Vincent Polakovič) and temporary exhibitions, usually focused on a single artist.
The gallery was re-opened at the beginning of September, and the new part, added to the original structure, received the award for Building of the Year 2014 from the Association for Development of Slovak Architecture ABF Slovakia. It won as selected by an international jury from among 23 constructions, with the criteria being: architectural and urban arrangement, technology, energy and operational demands, the functionality and environmental impact, materials used and the contribution to society.
This year, a jury of 7 awarded 12 prizes to eight constructions in Bratislava, Košice, Bernolákovo and Piešťany. The public chose the Grand Hotel Vígľaš which came out of the reconstruction of the Vígľaš Castle, the TASR newswire wrote.
The overall contribution of Danubiana to artistic life and international exchange – not only in Bratislava – was praised also by Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák, who met Meulensteen on October 23. Apart from his Danubiana engagement, Meulensteen is also the Honorary Consul of Slovakia in the Dutch city of Eindhoven. Lajčák positively evaluated his enthusiasm, especially in boosting cultural ties between both countries.
“I can proudly call the cooperation between our two countries excellent; in the political, economic, as well as cultural spheres,” Lajčák said, as quoted by TASR.
In this, Danubiana has its irreplaceable position, according to the minister.
“One could say that with the upcoming European Union presidency, in which Slovakia will continue after the Netherlands, the project of this gallery symbolises our common European way,” the minister concluded.
Danubiana has hosted exhibitions of renowned domestic and foreign artists such as: Karel Appel, José Guinovart, Cobry, Zoltan and Madeleine Kemeny, Sam Francis, Robert Combas, Karl Prantl, The Galanda group, Miroslav Cipár, Rudolf Sikora, Markus Prachensky and Vladimír Popovič.
Starting on November 29, Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch’s works will be presented in the gallery, called Orgies Mysteries Theatre (Das Orgien Mysterien Theater), presenting the provocative, progressive creation until March 22, open daily, except Mondays, between 10:00 and 18:00.
