University gallery hosted Mario Romoda, new generation painter, in his first solo exhibition in Split. The exhibition Portal II was, on Thursday, July 20, presented by curator, art historian Ivor Igrec, who first thanked University of Split and its rector, prof. Dragan Ljutić Ph.D. for this collaboration, saying how honoured he was to be opening an exhibition in this beautiful and respectable space:

- The artist presents us with 17 artworks part of his recent cycle created in the last few years. The paintings are often seemingly thematically different, but all connected by feelings of alienation and existential anxiety, as well as struggle against them, also reflected in artworks’ names. The portal is a kind of challenge and an attempt for the artist to establish contact with a new audience through/with his paintings. A state of well-being and stability is difficult to criticize and not necessarily (a) prerequisite for the creation of memorable art. The greater problems of contemporary society, the more pronounced existentialism, satire and critique of society, through art as well - said the exhibition’s curator.

Mario Romoda was born in Vukovar, 1987. He attended the School of Applied Art and Design in Osijek and won several awards at state drawing competitions, and in 2004, generation’s award for best student. Graduating from secondary school, he enrolled Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, painting, graduating in 2012 under the mentorship of prof. Zoltan Novak. He had ten solo exhibitions in Croatia, and participated in numerous group exhibitions abroad, including Cre-art residencies in Lithuania and Macedonia.

The exhibition was organized and moderated by Helena Trze Jakelić, head of University Gallery.