The third exhibition in the successful series “Tradition Untraditionally,” presented at the ÚĽUV Gallery in Bratislava, explores the enduring popularity of field plants—linen and hemp. Through historical objects and products crafted from these materials under the ÚĽUV brand in past decades, visitors will delve into their fascinating past. The exhibition highlights the unique contributions of contemporary designers and university students, whose work emphasizes sustainability, functionality, processing techniques, and the aesthetics of these natural materials. This exploration may offer insights into potential future developments.
Opening hours: Monday – Friday | 12.00 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Date: 01. 03. 2024 – 31. 10. 2024
Curators: Radoslava Janáčová, Ingrid Ondrejičková
Linen and hemp have been cultivated in Slovakia since possibly remembered. The use of these plants for textile purposes has been known to mankind since prehistoric times and they are still popular today for their excellent characteristics. In the past, linen was grown almost all over Europe and until the beginning of the 20th century it was the main material for the production of traditional clothing also in the east and north of Slovakia. Hemp was grown more extensively in western and southern Slovakia. The process of growing, harvesting and processing these plants has been remarkably sustainable in the past. The yarn is strong and linen is naturally antibacterial, non-electrifying and excellent for dyeing.
The manual processing of fiber plants was an important, even ritualised, household chore in Slovakia for many centuries. The opportunity to see parts of traditional women’s and men’s clothing from different regions of Slovakia will offer an unusual visual experience.
From the beginning, ÚĽUV has paid a close attention to textile production, building on a rich variety of traditional techniques and designs. From the designs of Božena Janeková, Oľga Koreňová, Klára Brunovská, Eva Kováčová, Janka Menkynová and others in various areas of production, a specific fashion pattern has developed over the years, which was extremely demanded by customers at the time of its creation and still is all these years later.
The contemporary art from designers Maria Štraneková, Martin Hrča, Zuzana Dedík Šidlíková, Silvia Fedorova, Julia Šmidáková and others, as well as students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava and successful Slovak companies Nehera and Atelier Rabada complete the mosaic of this incredibly rich materials, which has inspired and, we believe, will continue to inspire generations of both creators and users for a long time to come.