Legend of the (Regional) Artist

The third in the series of annual exhibitions of the Nitra Gallery is inspired by the essay “Legend of the Artist” by Ernst Kris (1900–1957) and Otto Kurz (1908–1975). The text was written almost 100 years ago (1934) and focused on the clichés and strategies that complete the so-called legend of the artist. The exhibition at the Nitra Gallery is a relatively free paraphrase and tracing of authors/artists found mainly in the gallery’s collection fund, which has been built up in various ways over 60 years. At the same time, the exhibition is dominated by the vague concept, or phenomenon, of the regional artist, and it seeks not only to present them but also to understand them. What kind of phenomenon are they? Do they reflect the limits or specificities of the region, the birthplace, the place of active creation, or are they another type of strategy that enhances the cult of the artist? Is it the place/environment where the artist creates their story, or is it a certain kind of imaginative mystery that does not change under the influence of time? The exhibition, which raises these questions, is a unique overview of authors represented in the gallery’s collections. At the same time, the exhibition will raise the question of the future of the collection and one of its possible acquisition directions through authors whose works are not yet represented in the collection, but whose diverse connection with the region can be traced. In the curatorial narrative, we will present almost 70 authors (of whom less than a third are female authors) who have various ties to the region of Nitra and its surroundings. A catalog will be published to accompany the exhibition, reflecting on selected events from the institution’s past (2016–2025).