August 4 to September 28 2010 - Museum of Lošinj: The Tower Gallery, Veli Lošinj and the Fritzy Gallery, Mali Lošinj

“MARIO DECLEVA (Veli Lošinj, 1930 - Vienna, 1979) - RETROSPECTIVE”

- retrospective exhibition of paintings and graphics

Opening on August 4 2010 at the Fritzy Palace (V. Gortana 35, Mali Lošinj) at 9 p.m.

 

Mario Decleva (Veli Lošinj, 1930 – Vienna, 1979), born into the family of Dr. Simonitsch, the founder and proprietor of the renowned Treatment Centre in Veli Lošinj; he had to leave his native island because of the war situation in 1943. From 1947 he lived in Graz, where he attended the School for Applied Arts (Kunstgewerbe Schule), to continue his education in 1949 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna (Akademie der bildenden Künste) under professor H. Boeckl and at the Experimental School of Graphics (Graphischen Lehr- und Versuchtsanstalt). From 1951 he was a member of the Grazer Sezession artists’group in Graz and later Forum Stadtpark group. After moving to Vienna in 1965 Decleva worked at the University of Applied Arts (Hochschule für angewandte Kunst) first with professor C. Unger as an assistant and from 1977 as professor until his sudden death in 1979. He is considered to be among the few representatives of informel painting in Styria and Austria in general (Wilfried Skrener). His paintings made in oil and caparol, numerous drawings and graphics together with works of applied arts (stained glass, tapestries and carpets etc.) have been present today in the art life of Austria through occasional exhibitions and publications; however, a comprehensive retrospective exhibition has not been organized until now.