Zoran Music biography

Zoran Music, Slovenian painter and engraver, is one of the most renowned and admired artists of the 20th century. Born in 1909 in Boccavizza, a small village near Gorizia, into a Slovenian-speaking family, he left an indelible mark on the art world. His life and artwork were marked by extraordinary and dramatic experiences that profoundly influenced his artistic style. After completing his studies at the Academy of Art in Zagreb in 1934, Zoran Mušič embarked on a series of long journeys across Europe. During this period, he spent time in Madrid, where he was inspired by Spanish painting and visited great museums like the Prado and the Escorial. This journey marked the beginning of a new phase in his painting, with the landscape of old Castile awakening in him the memory of his Dalmatian homeland."
However, the life of Zoran Mušič takes a dramatic turn during the Second World War. In November 1944, he is arrested by the Gestapo in Trieste on charges of collaboration and deported to the Dachau concentration camp. Despite the extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances, Zoran Mušič manages to secretly draw life in the camp. Twenty-four of his drawings, dated and signed Dachau 1945, have been recently discovered and represent a touching document of the tragedy experienced during captivity. These drawings are now kept in the Museo Revoltella in Trieste and testify to the artist's ability to transform horror into art.
After his release in 1945, he returns to Italy and settles in Venice, where he marries Ida Barbarigo Cadorin, who becomes his muse for life. Venice and the surrounding landscapes become a source of inspiration for his subsequent works. In 1950, he wins the Premio Gualino at the Venice Biennale and later the Premio Parigi in 1951, confirming his talent and international recognition.
Zoran Mušič's painting undergoes continuous evolution over the years. From the depiction of the Dalmatian landscapes of his youth, he increasingly focuses on the surrounding environment, abandoning the canons of three-dimensionality. He is influenced by the elements of mosaics and Byzantine icons present in Venice and studies French lyrical abstraction during his stay in Paris in the 1950s. One of Zoran Mušič's most acclaimed series, titled Noi non siamo gli ultimi (Nous ne sommes pas les derniers), is dated between 1970 and 1976. This series represents the transformation of the horror and hell of imprisonment in the Dachau concentration camp into documents of a universal tragedy. These works have been enormously successful and have been appreciated by critics.
Zoran Mušič's works have been exhibited in numerous international exhibitions and are present in the most important museums in the world, including Italy, Slovenia, France, Spain, Germany, and the United States. His ability to capture the essence of tragedy and humanity in his paintings and drawings has made his art a powerful and moving testimony to the human condition. Zoran Mušič, also known as the painter of little horses for his recurring subject of horses, has left a lasting legacy in the global art scene. His ability to transform horror into beauty and to capture the essence of humanity in such a profound and touching way makes him a unique and unforgettable artist."
Zoran Mušič passed away on May 25, 2005, but his artwork continues to inspire and move those who have the fortune to discover his extraordinary artistic talent and his profound sensitivity towards humanity. His biography is a testament to the power of art in giving voice to those who have been oppressed and in revealing beauty even in the darkest circumstances.