curator: Branko Franceshi
High Times: Reflections of Pscyhedelia in Socialist Yugoslavia 1966 – 1976 makes manifest the ever intriguing and fruitful rapport between vanguard artists and popular culture, occurring within the unique context of a society that managed to create its own political, economic, and social system based on its vacillation between East and West during the height of the Cold War.
Yugoslavia’s means of coping with the contradicting political agendas colliding within its territory may be best understood through cultural examples. For instance, while Scott Mckenzie’s 1967 international pop hit “San Francisco” spread its message of love and change over the much-restricted Eastern Bloc (consequently becoming an anthem to accompany demonstrations for more civil and political rights there), Yugoslavia’s premier record company Jugoton used it the same year to launch the career of young and upcoming pop singer Mišo Kovač. With lyrics translated into Croatian, “San Francisco” became an instant hit stripped of any ideological connotations, despite being young and tuned into the global stream.
Exhibited artists:
Marina Abramović, Marjan Ciglič, Grupa 220, Indeksi, Matjaž Hanžek, Korni grupa, Mišo Kovač, Zdenka Kovačićek & Nirvana, Naško Križnar, Josipa Lisac, Ivan Martinac, Slavko Matković, Miroslav Mikuljan, Vladimir Petek, Marko Pogačnik, Ante Verzotti, Slobodan Šijan, Ljubomir Šimunić, Time, Petar Trinajstić, Uragani
