Julije Knifer
Encyclopedia
Julije Knifer was a Croatian painter and founding member of the prominent 60s Croatian art group known as, Gorgona Group
.
The central motif of Knifer’s art is the meander which he had been creating from 1960 in various techniques: print, oil, acrylic paint, collage, mural, etc. An example of which is the colossal meander created by Knifer on a 20 x 30 m canvas in a quarry in Tübingen
(1975). He was one of the founding members of the Gorgona Group, whose members from 1959 to 1966 were: Miljenko Horvat, Ivan Kožarić
, Marijan Jevšovar, Dimitrije Bašičević
(who works under the name Mangelos), Matko Meštrović, Radoslav Putar, Đuro Seder and Josip Vaništa. In 1961 he participated at the first New Tendencies’ exhibition in Zagreb. He exhibited at many national and international shows including, The New Tendencies exhibitions (1961, 1963, 1969 and 1973), Art Abstrait Constructif International at the Denise René Gallery (Paris, 1961–1962), Konstruktivisten at the Städtisches Museum Leverkusen (Leverkusen
, 1962), Oltre l’informale (San Marino, 1963), the Venice Biennale
(1976 and 2001), the São Paulo Art Biennale (1973 with Juraj Dobrović
and Vjenceslav Richter
, 1979 and 1981). He collaborated with the Dany Keller Gallery in Munich
, the Hoffmann Gallery in Friedberg and the Frank Elbaz Gallery in Paris. This increased the number of his works in private and museum collections which are now held in many prominent institutions across the world including the Centre Georges Pompidou
in Paris. In 1994 he moved to Paris where he lived until his death. His first posthumous exhibition was organized by Arnauld Pierre at the Frank Elbaz Gallery in Paris (2010). In 2002 he was the recipient of the Vladimir Nazor Life Achievement Award.
Gorgona Group
The Gorgona Group , was a Croatian avant-garde art group which consisted of artists and art historians: Dimitrije Bašičević-Mangelos, Miljenko Horvat, Marijan Jevšovar, Julije Knifer, Ivan Kožarić, Matko Meštrović, Radoslav Putar, Đuro Seder, Josip Vaništa, operated along the lines of anti-art in...
.
The central motif of Knifer’s art is the meander which he had been creating from 1960 in various techniques: print, oil, acrylic paint, collage, mural, etc. An example of which is the colossal meander created by Knifer on a 20 x 30 m canvas in a quarry in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
(1975). He was one of the founding members of the Gorgona Group, whose members from 1959 to 1966 were: Miljenko Horvat, Ivan Kožarić
Ivan Kožarić
Ivan Kožarić is a Croatian artist who works primarily with sculpture but also works in a wide variety of media, including: permanent and temporary sculptures, assemblages, proclamations, photographs, paintings and installations...
, Marijan Jevšovar, Dimitrije Bašičević
Dimitrije Basicevic
Dimitrije Bašičević was an artist, critic and curator, working under the pseudonym Mangelos. He made handmade books, sculptures and paintings....
(who works under the name Mangelos), Matko Meštrović, Radoslav Putar, Đuro Seder and Josip Vaništa. In 1961 he participated at the first New Tendencies’ exhibition in Zagreb. He exhibited at many national and international shows including, The New Tendencies exhibitions (1961, 1963, 1969 and 1973), Art Abstrait Constructif International at the Denise René Gallery (Paris, 1961–1962), Konstruktivisten at the Städtisches Museum Leverkusen (Leverkusen
Leverkusen
Leverkusen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on the eastern bank of the Rhine. To the South, Leverkusen borders the city of Cologne and to the North is the state capital Düsseldorf....
, 1962), Oltre l’informale (San Marino, 1963), the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
(1976 and 2001), the São Paulo Art Biennale (1973 with Juraj Dobrović
Juraj Dobrović
Juraj Dobrović Juraj Dobrović Juraj Dobrović (born, 1928 in Jelsa, Croatia is a Croatian artist working in the media of sculpture, painting and graphic arts. The focus of his art is mainly oriented towards geometrical structures. He makes use of light effects to emphasize the plasticity of the...
and Vjenceslav Richter
Vjenceslav Richter
Vjenceslav Richter was a Croatian architect. He was also known for his work in the fields of urbanism, sculpture, graphic arts, painting and stage design.-Career:...
, 1979 and 1981). He collaborated with the Dany Keller Gallery in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, the Hoffmann Gallery in Friedberg and the Frank Elbaz Gallery in Paris. This increased the number of his works in private and museum collections which are now held in many prominent institutions across the world including the Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
in Paris. In 1994 he moved to Paris where he lived until his death. His first posthumous exhibition was organized by Arnauld Pierre at the Frank Elbaz Gallery in Paris (2010). In 2002 he was the recipient of the Vladimir Nazor Life Achievement Award.
Published works on Julije Knifer
- Biro, Adam & Pierre, Arnauld Knifer: Méandres (Paris, 2001).
- Maković, Zvonko Julije Knifer (Meandar & Studio Rašić, Zagreb, 2002).