by InTrieste
A major retrospective of the work of Zoran Mušič, the acclaimed Italo-Slovenian painter, opens May 25 at Palazzo Attems Petzenstein in Gorizia, Italy. The exhibition, La Stanza di Zurigo, le Opere e l’Atelier, is one of the central cultural offerings of “GO! 2025,” the cross-border European Capital of Culture initiative shared by Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Gorizia (Italy).
The show features more than 100 works spanning seven decades—from the 1930s to the early 2000s—tracing the evolution of Mušič’s art and personal journey. Born in 1909 in Bukovica (now Boccavizza), a small village just outside Gorizia, Mušič’s life and work were shaped by the region’s complex history and its layered cultural identity, straddling Italian, Slovenian, and Central European influences.
Two decades after his death in Venice in 2005, Mušič returns symbolically to the city near his birthplace. The exhibition places his work in the context of the turbulent 20th century, exploring how his experiences—ranging from war and exile to international recognition—found expression in his paintings. The retrospective is organized thematically and chronologically, offering viewers an in-depth look at both his stylistic development and his engagement with existential themes.
Mušič’s artistic legacy is notable for its subtle, haunting reflections on memory and suffering, particularly his series inspired by his imprisonment in the Dachau concentration camp during World War II. In contrast, his later works—especially those created in his studio in Zurich, which gives the show its title—reflect a quieter, more introspective phase, often focused on landscapes, self-portraits, and symbolic forms.
The exhibition is part of a broader effort by “GO! 2025” to highlight the shared cultural heritage of the border region and to underscore the role of art in building dialogue across communities. For Gorizia, welcoming Mušič home is not only an act of remembrance but also a celebration of a unique voice that emerged from a place of encounter, complexity, and coexistence.
The retrospective runs through the summer and is accompanied by a series of public programs, including lectures, film screenings, and guided tours, aimed at deepening engagement with Mušič’s enduring work.
