The concept of the retrospective exhibition of academic painter and university professor Jadranko Runjić offers a comprehensive overview of his artistic career, presenting a complete, heterogeneous, and exceptionally rich body of work. A deep understanding of art historical traditions and the avant-garde movements of the 20th century has enabled Runjić to develop his distinctive style more than four decades ago, reflecting both personal and artistic maturity. His relentless exploration, critical examination, and insightful conceptual engagement with painting as a medium of infinite possibilities, along with his original pursuit and discovery of new avenues for both the painting and the art form, firmly establish Jadranko Runjić as a master of his craft.
It is an understatement to say that Jadranko Runjić’s paintings are compelling. His artistic oeuvre represents a cohesive blend of various modern and postmodern achievements, created with an inherent logic that stems from his profound knowledge of the language of painting and the artistic tradition he inherited. Yet, all these styles that unfold in the layers of Runjić’s paintings, come together in a fortunate fusion that produces exceptional art. His execution is defined by a methodical approach. He has never drawn a line, applied paint to the canvas, or enclosed a shape and colour within the form of an object without first carefully considering, both theoretically and semiotically, what he was doing. The routine apparent in his process might lead one to focus on the craftsmanship in his work. However, the unpredictability and surprises it brings, along with the ability to inject spontaneity into the brushwork and composition, despite being grounded in a carefully chosen and well-established framework, saves him from such mundane interpretations and elevates his work to the level of artistic creativity.
The very fact that Runjić works in cycles and series, in variations and derivations, speaks to a constant state of change. Looking back, one can easily discern a certain reversibility in the cycle of Runjić’s painting, constantly revisiting and reinterpreting itself, while maintaining a consistent identity for both the artist and the artwork. For here, beyond the simple chronology of the creation of each work, there is no distinct beginning or end, no sense of being more recent or earlier, neither delayed nor anticipated, suggested or outdated. This is why Jadranko Runjić’s painting is an intriguing outcome of long-term exploration into artistic possibilities, without “phases,” existing within a continuous stylistic evolution.
Marija Stipišić Vuković
Jadranko Runjić, born on 21 February 1956 in Gospić, completed the School of Applied Arts in Split in 1974, specialising in Printmaking. In 1980, he earned a degree in Painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, in the class of Prof. Šime Perić. A member of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists (HDLU) Split since 1985, he worked as a teacher at the Split School of Fine Arts from 1991 to 1997. From 1997 to 2023, he served as an assistant professor and later as a lecturer in the Painting Department at the Arts Academy in Split. He also occasionally works in graphic design, set design, and illustration. Lives in Split.
The exhibition has been produced with financial assistance from the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia and the City of Split.