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1925
Born in Dargaville
___________
1946
Begins groundwork for
expressionist and
geometric painting style
___________
1963
Emblems
___________
1972
First retrospective
exhibition at Auckland
City Art Gallery:
Milan Mrkusich Paintings
1946-1972
___________
1982
One of three New Zealand
artists to exhibit at the
Carnegie Institute,
Pennsylvania
___________
1985
Second retrospective
exhibition at Auckland
City Art Gallery:
Milan Mrkusich–A
Decade Further
On 1974-1983
___________
1994
Designs coloured
enamel windows
for Te Papa
___________
1997
Officer, New Zealand
Order of Merit for
Services to Painting
___________
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Milan Mrkusich
Visual Artist
Milan Mrkusich is acknowledged as one of the country's leading Modernist painters
Of Dalmation decent, Milan Mrkusich was born in
Dargaville in 1925 and educated in Auckland. In 1942 Milan took
up an apprenticeship in Writing and Pictorial Arts with Neuline Studios,
while also attending night courses at Seddon Technical and taking
life-drawing classes. Over this period, Milan spent two years painting full time, laying the groundwork of his geometric Expressionist painting style.
Milan became a partner in the architectural design firm Brenner Associates
in 1949, working as a colour consultant, architectural designer and on exhibition and display designs. After Brenners closed in 1958, he obtained various architectural commissions, including many stained-glass windows and mosaics.
Using geometric forms, such as those discussed in C. G. Jung's Man and his Symbols, and influenced by developments in international abstract art, Milan's paintings in the sixties were based partly on the squared circle or mandala motif which Jung says respresents
"enlightenment, or human perfection". He painted Emblems in 1963 and, two years later,
the renowned Elements and Four Elements.
In 1968 he embarked on a style which held him captivated till 1976.
Initially explored in the Monochromes, the Meta Greys and the Dark
Paintings, this style saw the elimation of forms and elements, resulting
in what Susan Sontag has referred to as "silent art".
In 1972 Milan was recognised with his first retrospective exhibition at the Auckland City Art Gallery, Milan Mrkusich, Paintings 1946-1972. Following this, he continued to explore the use of monochromes which expanded into Zone and Area works in the late 70s and into the 80s. This style continued in 1982 and 1983 with his interpretation of Constructivism, the Segmented Arcs. in 1982 Milan participated in the 48th Carnegie International in Pittsburg, Pennyslvania, USA.
There was a second retrospective show at Auckland Art Gallery in 1985; Milan Mrkusich - a decade further on 1974 - 1983. After this a new direction surfaced resulting in the Journey paintings. Six further categories of new work followed dealing primarily with different approaches to the use of colour - colour as a symbol and colour as a material fact made un-material by the viewer.
Milan's work is probably best known by Wellingtonians and overseas
visitors, being most publically displayed in the capital through
the large plates of coloured enamel windows on the Te Papa building. This was a
commission Milan won in 1994 amidst fierce competition.
Since receiving his Icon Award Milan has had a number of showings of new works with the Hamish McKay Gallery in Wellington and Sue Crockford Gallery in Auckland, as well as major works being included in significant shows in foremost public galleries.
Milan was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 1997 for his services to painting. He lives and works in Auckland in the house he designed and built when at Brenner Associates in the early 1950s. |
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