Posters of Yugoslav Socialism: Design, Socialism, Modernism Exhibition

The exhibition titled "Design, Socialism, Modernism: Didactic Exhibition," curated by Dejan Kršić alongside Marko Golub and Tena Lovrenčić, explores the visual culture of Yugoslav socialism during the 1950s and 1960s through a collection of posters. Kršić posits that design and visual communication provide a crucial insight into Yugoslav society in the latter half of the 20th century. Rather than offering a thorough critique, the exhibition investigates how cultural production mirrored social tensions. He emphasizes that modern interpretations of Socialist-era art often fall into clichés, masking the intricate connections between art and politics. The exhibition differentiates between Socialist Realism, Socialist Modernism, and Socialist Aestheticism, focusing on the often-overlooked conflict between the latter two. The subtitle nods to the Didactic Exhibition of Abstract Art from the late 1950s, organized by artists and curators at the City Gallery of Contemporary Art (now MSU), as well as Kršić's own 2009 project "Designed in Croatia – Didactic Exhibition" at the Croatian Designers' Society Gallery. It includes original pieces, reproductions, texts, and footnotes arranged in a spatial collage, documenting shifts in design, visual communication, and society over 40 years. Notable works comprise posters by Boris Dogan, Mihajlo Arsovski, Ivan Picelj, Zoran Pavlovic, and Edo Murtić, along with a catalog cover by Milan Vulpe for Pliva, Croatia's leading pharmaceutical firm.