An exhibition titled Jan Kňazovic – 100 Years Since the Birth of a Pioneer of Naïve Art opened on Thursday, February 20th at 6:00 PM at the Museum of Naïve and Marginal Art in Jagodina.

The emergence of modern art did not directly cause the rise of naïve art, as these two artistic movements arose from different contexts and were driven by different foundational impulses. However, the modern era contributed to the recognition and acceptance of naïve art as a legitimate form of artistic expression.

This exhibition is dedicated to an artist who began his career in a simple and humble way. Born in Kovačica, he completed six grades of elementary school in his native language and worked in agriculture, which likely shaped his worldview and influenced his artistic expression.

He started painting with oil paints, initially by copying reproductions, and later became an active member of the art section "Pokroka", founded in 1951. His first public exhibition was in 1952, together with a group of Kovačica painters, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Kovačica. Kňazovic had a great love for the world of colors, and his work was full of cheerful themes. His favorite color was ultramarine blue, which he found especially suitable for creating night scenes, a subject he frequently painted.

His most famous work, Children’s Dance (1954), achieved great success. This painting was even featured on one of four postage stamps in the "Yugoslav Art" series in 1974, and on the cover of the novel Bakonja Fra Brne by Simo Matavulj, published in Switzerland.

His paintings carry powerful symbolism as well as deep emotion, which makes them universal and timeless, even when depicting themes and scenes specifically tied to rural life. Through a rational arrangement of figures and especially color in his compositions, Kňazovic expressed his painterly temperament and developed a unique style that he consistently adhered to. In this way, Kňazovic’s painting has become part of the great family of naïve art.

The exhibition will run until March 31, 2025.

Curator: Radmila Stamenković