The theme of the Slovak National Uprising held a privileged position in our art, not only as a reaction to the war, a symbol of resistance and victory, but also as an original domestic motif. From the beginning, artists devoted themselves to it spontaneously, producing insurgent leaflets, posters and fake passports or money. At one time, themes from the uprising were the most popular historical theme in the history of Slovak art. At the end of the 1980s, up to seven thousand related works were noted, and up to a third of artists participated in the uprising - thirty-two painters, sculptors and graphic artists.
From an artistic point of view, it was also significant because it was an exciting and romantic theme. Encounter with the partisans meant sharing a secret and subconsciously "belonging to the right side, having trust, understanding where I belong". In the visual arts, artists picked up on the visuals of bandit romance - hooded partisans in long cloaks provided a ready-made composition. The motivation to create was undoubtedly also a personal one because many of the artists were actively involved in the uprising; many lost their loved ones in it, while others ended up in concentration camps.
Later, the theme was ideologically used and abused. However, many impressive and high-quality works were created—the building of the Slovak National Uprising Museum in Banská Bystrica, Jankovič's statue Victims Warning, or the sculpture March of Partisans by Jozef Kostka, which guards the entrance to the Slovak National Gallery.
We sincerely thank the Institute of National Memory for their consultation on the period slogans.
See also past SNG exhibitions and projects related to this topic:
Dream x Reality
Curator video for the exhibition
Interrupted Song
