ZORAN MUSIC ARTWORKS

Zoran Music, Slovenian painter and printmaker, is one of the most well-known and admired artists of the 20th century. Born in 1909 in Boccavizza, a small town near Gorizia, into a Slovenian-speaking family, he left an indelible mark on the art world. His life and work 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 undertook 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 such as the Prado and the Escorial. This journey marks 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, Zoran Mušič's life takes a dramatic turn during World War II. In November 1944, he was arrested by the Gestapo in Trieste on charges of collaboration and deported to the Dachau concentration camp. Despite extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances, Zoran Mušič manages to secretly design life in the camp. Twenty-four of his drawings, dated and signed Dachau 1945, were recently discovered and represent a touching document of the tragedy experienced during his imprisonment. These drawings are now kept in the Revoltella Museum in Trieste and testify to the artist's ability to transform horror into art.
After his liberation in 1945, he returned to Italy and settled in Venice, where he married Ida Barbarigo Cadorin, who became his muse for life. Venice and the surrounding landscapes become a source of inspiration for his later works. In 1950 he won the Gualino Prize at the Venice Biennale and subsequently the Paris Prize in 1951, confirming his talent and recognition at an international level.
Zoran Mušič's painting undergoes continuous evolution over the years. From the representation of the Dalmatian landscapes of his youth, he increasingly focuses on the surrounding environment, abandoning the canons of three-dimensionality. He was influenced by the elements of Byzantine mosaics and icons present in Venice and studied French lyrical abstraction during his stay in Paris in the 1950s. One of Zoran Mušič's most acclaimed series, entitled We are not the last (Nous ne sommes pas les derniers), dates back to 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 were extremely successful and were 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 made his art a powerful and moving testimony to the human condition. Zoran Mušič, also known as the horse painter for his recurring subject of horses, has left a lasting legacy on the world art scene. His ability to transform horror into beauty and 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 work continues to inspire and move those lucky enough to discover his extraordinary artistic talent and his profound sensitivity towards humanity. His biography is a testament to the power of art to give voice to those who have been oppressed and to reveal beauty in even the darkest circumstances.