ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Irwin's Retroprincip 1983-2003: A Retrospective Across Europe

exhibition · 2026-04-23

Thibaut de Ruyter examines the work of the Slovenian art collective Irwin. Founded in 1983 by five students from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana, Irwin recently presented its first major retrospective in Europe: Retroprincip 1983-2003. The exhibition, curated by Inke Arns, traveled from Berlin (Künstlerhaus Bethanien, autumn 2003) to Hagen (Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum, winter 2003-2004) and finally to the Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade (April 17 – May 17, 2004). It covered twenty years of a career blending history, politics, and humor.

Key facts

  • Irwin is a Slovenian art collective founded in 1983.
  • The collective was formed by five students from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana.
  • Retroprincip 1983-2003 was Irwin's first major retrospective in Europe.
  • The exhibition was curated by Inke Arns.
  • It was shown at Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin in autumn 2003.
  • It traveled to Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum in Hagen in winter 2003-2004.
  • The final venue was the Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade from April 17 to May 17, 2004.
  • The retrospective covered twenty years of Irwin's career, combining history, politics, and humor.

Entities

Artists

  • Irwin

Institutions

  • Academy of Fine Arts Ljubljana
  • Künstlerhaus Bethanien
  • Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum
  • Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade

Locations

  • Ljubljana
  • Slovenia
  • Berlin
  • Germany
  • Hagen
  • Belgrade
  • Serbia

Sources