Bratislava - Danubiana

The ground floor gallery at the Danubiana

"Go there, even if you don't like modern art. There are a lot of ballast around, but if you like art, you cannot miss the Danubiana.  Just look at the colours, the shapes, don't try to understand the objects", urged Tatiana from the office. 


The Danubiana Meulensleen Art Centre is probably one of the more unusual art galleries that I have visited.  The two storey building is located on the borders of three neighbouring countries: Slovakia, Austria and Hungary; what is unique about the place is that it is surrounded by a wide expanse of water, open air and endless banks of a dam.  


On the grounds outside, there are scores of modern sculpture, but none more impressive than Peter Pollág´s the Wings of Danube, the immense glass mosaic sculpture that proclaims imagination and dreams in a riot of colours. Even on a dull and wet day, the spirit was lifted by the sight of this joyous, soaring sculpture.  








There are more of Peter Pollág in the main hall, including a diptych of acrylic and oil on canvas. Truly a masterful colourist, Pollág juxtaposes symbols, lines and curves to create recognizable fragments that are not entirely real, but are not imaginary either.  What drew me to his style is the sheer vibrancy of the colours.

Sculptures at the Danubiana

Another painter that lights up the day is  Ján Hlavatý.  His abstract paintings are dominated by blocks of primary colours, with the unmistakable overtones of emotions, passions, and energy. In this painting, the brilliant orange and shimmering gold seem to float on the clouds of a blue summer sky.  So full of life, so full of possibilities.

Tomorrow, we go to the High Tatras.