Twin City Journal Bratislava       

Foundation of the Mikuláš Galanda Group

Several young talented graduates of the Academy of Visual Arts in Bratislava decided in the second half of the 1950s to combine their painting and sculptural activities. The Galanda Group drew from the well known local traditions and oriented itself on European modern art. They had no fixed programme, their creative work should be free.

Problems with the totalitarian power

In the 1950s and early 1960s, the Galanda Group had a trying time. The high-ranking party officials kept a close watch on the group members and their work. Some of them were accused of offending the working class by depicting workers with small heads in order to call attention to their low intelligence.

The opening of the Czechoslovak border had major importance also for visual artists. In 1963, A. Barčík won a prize at the VII Biennial in Sao Paolo. In 1965, the Galanda Group participated in exhibitions in Rome, Naples and Paris. In 1966, M. Laluha was awarded an important prize at the XXXIII Venice Biennial. In the same year, the members of the Galanda Group presented their works in exhibitions in Augsburg, Lausanne, Mexico and Berlin, in 1967 in Graz, Vienna and Antwerp. In 1970, some group members attained great success at Expo in Oslo.

Galanda Group after 1970

Before November 1972, the conditions for Slovak visual art were apparently normal. At the II congress of the Slovak Visual Arts Association, art scene was uncompromisingly divided in official and unofficial. Most group members were expelled from the association, which had awful consequences (e.g. ban on exhibition, travel). 1972-73 were the last years of group activities of the Galanda Group, courageous rebels and champions of Slovak modern art.
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