Discovering Art at the Faculty of Economics and Business

Janez Vidic (1923, Ljubljana‒1996, Maribor): Mercury, 1962, sgraffito, wall painting with gilding, 3.50 x 5.60 m, Faculty of Economics and Business, Razlagova ulica 14

Photo source: Maribor Art Gallery. Available on 7 November 2024 at: Maribor Art Gallery

In the building of the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Maribor at Razlagova ulica 14, there is a mural by the artist Janez Vidic in the hall on the first floor. The sgraffito, completed with gilding, depicts Mercury, the Roman god of trade, which symbolically emphasizes the mission of the building. The motif is placed in a landscape with sharp lines, where Mercury stands opposite two horses. The stylization of the figures, the mannerism in proportions, and the ornamentation show a connection to the artist’s illustrative style. The character of the muscular horse appears frequently in Vidic’s oeuvre in various forms.

Text source: Mojca Štuhec, MARIBORSKI MURALI, promotional publication of the Maribor Art Gallery

Part of the overall graphic identity of the Faculty of Economics and Business is represented by the symbolic depiction of Mercury.

Slavko Tihec (1928, Maribor ‒ 1993, Ljubljana): Wall composition, 1974, object, 87.5 x 87.5 x 16.5 m, Faculty of Economics and Business, Razlagova ulica 20

Photo source: Museums.Si, Art in Public Space. Available on 7 November 2024 at: museums.si/sl-si/Domov/Zbirke/Predmet

Slavko Tihec designed a wall composition for the corridor of the Faculty of Economics and Business building at Razlagova ulica 20, which was the work of architect Branko Kocmut. He assembled it from sixteen square wooden frames, which he hung in two rows along the wall. At first glance, the frames appear identical, but they differ in the articulation of the slats and the concave-convex treatment of the rear side, which leans against the wall. Due to these subtle differences and the play of light and shadow, the whole composition appears to vibrate. The dynamism of the piece also gives the impression of concave-convex waves, reflecting the artist’s playfulness and his desire to create optical illusions, although the frames are, in fact, perfectly aligned. This artwork dominates the otherwise white, neutral space and immediately captures the viewer's attention as they ascend the stairs.

Text source: Museums.Si, Art in public space. Available on 7 November 2024 at: museums.si/sl-si/Domov/Zbirke/Predmet

Bradford Graves (1926–1998, USA), Bridge to Man, concrete, 1970, 280 x 475 x 220 cm, platform in front of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Razlagova ulica 14

Photo source: UM FEB Archive

At the second Forma viva Maribor symposium in 1970, the American artist Bradford Graves, known for his sophisticated compositions of abstract forms, created a work entitled »The Bridge to Man«, located in front of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Razlagova ulica 14. This piece has evoked varied interpretations, with many associating it with different images, such as a grasshopper or the large feet of the famous Slovenian hero Martin Krpan.

Text source: Breda Kolar Sluga, FORMA VIVA MARIBOR 1967–1986, promotional publication of the Maribor Art Gallery

Mojca Smerdu (1951, Slovenia), Flower, 1983, reinforced concrete, 125 x 175 x 175 cm, platform in front of the Faculty of Economics, Razlagova ulica 20

Photo source: Municipality of Maribor, Fine arts in the area of ​​the city of Maribor. Available on 7 November 2024 at: http://www.mariborart.si/spomenik/-/article-display/forma-viva-mojca-smerdu

At the international sculpture symposium Forma viva Maribor in 1983, Mojca Smerdu was one of two female sculptors who participated. Known for experimenting with concrete, Smerdu depicted one of the variations of her fully plastic stylized female forms in front of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Razlagova ulica 20.

Text source: Breda Kolar Sluga, FORMA VIVA MARIBOR 1967–1986, promotional publication of the Maribor Art Gallery