On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, an independent exhibition of sculptures by the academic sculptor Ivan Fijolić was opened in the "Vjekoslav Karas" Gallery. This sculptor, known for his authentic subversive expression, embodies ideological myths, be it pop culture heroes or historical characters, which the artist does not abandon, and who act humorously in a reality marked by transition and crime. His most famous work remains the bronze statue of Bruce Lee (Mostar, BiH, 2006), which, until it was destroyed, and was destroyed on the same day it was erected, stood in Mostar park, in order to reconcile the two ideologically and politically divided halves of the city.
It was the first public sculpture dedicated to Bruce Lee in the world. Even after the destruction of the work, the artist also made a camp pink pop sculpture of Bruce Lee that acts like a mega plastic toy, in the magenta tone of the Deutsche Telekom corporation, the corporation that rules the Croatian market of telecommunications and information services.
Ivan Fijolić was born in Zagreb. He graduated from the School of Applied Arts, earning the title of metal designer. In 2004, at the teaching department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, he graduated in sculpture in the class of prof. Mire Vuce and the methodology of the history of fine art with prof. Emil Robert Tanay, earning the title of professor of fine arts. In 2008, he enrolled in a post-graduate doctoral art study in sculpture, which he finished in 2016. In 2016, the Academic Council of the ALU in Zagreb appointed him as an assistant professor in the field of art, the field of fine arts, a branch of sculpture. He is the author of over 30 solo exhibitions, of which 6 are foreign. In total, he participated in 63 joint exhibitions, 14 of which were abroad. He presented himself to the public with 10 public sculptures. He has been awarded multiple times for his artistic work.
The author of the exhibition is the manager of the Gallery "Vjekoslav Karas" Aleksandar Goret, and the author of the foreword of the catalog "Ivan Fijolić - sculptures" is the art historian Feđa Gavrilović. The exhibition can be viewed during the working hours of the Gallery, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 am to 4 pm, on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 am to 7 pm, on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 12 pm.
The exhibition was financially supported by the City of Karlovac.
