The exhibition unveils the fascinating, often overlooked influences of Far Eastern and African art on the celebrated painter Gustav Klimt. Featuring 13 unique items from Klimt’s personal collection, this temporary exhibition offers a deep dive into how Chinese iconography, Japonism, and African cultural motifs shaped some of his most iconic works.

The objects, borrowed from the renowned Leopold Museum in Vienna, are displayed under meticulous conservation conditions in the grand Ceremonial Hall of the City Museum of Rijeka’s Sugar Palace.

The striking interior of the Palace itself provides the perfect backdrop for this captivating journey into Klimt’s creative evolution.

The exhibition design harmonizes with the genius loci of the striking interior of the Palace. A central display case, encased in mirrors, creates an endless visual dialogue between the objects, their reflections, and the viewers themselves—symbolizing the perpetual influence of Klimt’s art. These mirrors not only reflect the exhibits but also echo the interior’s ornate details and a specially designed texture featuring signature Klimt motifs.

This exhibition invites visitors to explore the cultural intersections that fueled Klimt’s genius and to experience his work in an entirely new light.

Exhibition design: Rašić+Vrabec

Vedrana Vrabec (creative director, designer)
Marko Rašić (creative director, designer)
Matija Barović (designer)
Andreja Lovreković (designer)

Deborah Pustišek Antić, (curator)
Client: The City Museum of Rijeka
Foto: Petar Fabijan, R+V arhiva