From 3 December until 31 December 2005

CIRIL ZLOBEC
From the onset of his poetic career Ciril Zlobec has been expressing his humanity, individuality and rebellion through love and even passion. And love has remained his favourite literary topic and absolute value as well.

In the mind of the lively poet from Karst love is inventive, it redeems poet‛s body and mind, thus making his life friendly and fulfilling. With Zlobec the love theme therefore never dies out, on the contrary, it continues to provide fresh opportunities to celebrate human existence. He uses poetry to express his protest as well. His intense political engagement could be seen in all crucial moments of recent Slovenian history. Poetry gives him strength to articulate his life extremes.

Ciril Zlobec happens to be a world messenger of the Slovenian lyric poetry and culture, along with celebration of tolerance and co-operation between nations. He has been awarded a number of national awards for his original work as well as international awards for his translation work.

The exhibition will take place to mark his 80th birthday and out of his extensive work a selection of poems, prose and essay writings will be presented in monograph editions, together with translations in other languages, documentary items and manuscripts now held at NUK.

Authors of the exhibition: Rozina Švent (NUK), Tatjana Kovač (NUK)

From 3 November until 30 November 2005

Patres - The church Fathers at NUK
The expression »Church Fathers« refers to all those ancient Christian writers whose authority has become greater and greater with the time. Some of the leading Church Fathers are therefore called doctores ecclesiae, church teachers.

Rich in diversity, patristic literature conveyed to the Middle Ages both evangelical spirituality and ancient humanism, thus representing the strongest aspect of the early European culture, along with the Bible. A renewal of interest can therefore be seen during the Renaissance not only for pagan, but for Christian antiquity as well. This was followed by a number of editions of works by Fathers whose writings made considerable impact on the European - and Slovenian – Reformation movement.

Therefore it comes as no surprise that NUK holds manuscripts and early printed books of the writings of the fathers which can only be described in superlatives: the most ancient and most beautiful codex, the most richly illuminated manuscript…

The exhibition will explore and describe these treasures, along with the authors. In this way visitors will gain an insight into a most fascinating chapter of our history, wrongly forgotten and far from being over.

Author of the exhibition: Gorazd Kocijančič (NUK)

 From 29 September until 22 October 2005

Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of
Cervantes‛s Don Quixote
The starting point of the exhibition will be a selection of editions in Spanish and Slovenian, held by the Library, but other languages will also be taken into account, especially those once spoken in Slovenia. The most important translations of the novel will be included, paying attention to editions containing valid critical material on the novel. The catalogue contribution will analyse the relationship between Slovenians and this masterpiece, along with Spanish culture in general. Book editions will be accompanied by two most significant depictions from the Don Quixote iconography, the first one by Nikolaj Pirnat who provided illustrations for the Slovenska matica edition (1935-37, translated by Stanko Leben). The second artist is Jože Ciuha who has been holding intimate conversation with Don Quixote for decades. Both artistic interpretations are outstanding and they demonstrate, each in their own way, the extent to which Don Quixote has been deeply rooted in the Slovenian perception of the world.

Author of the exhibition: Veselin Mišković (NUK)

From 15 September until 24 September 2005

Exhibition of the Trubar Foundation donation
The Trubar Foundation was created in 1992 as a joint venture of Slovenian Writers‛ Association, Slovenian PEN and Vladimir Bartol Foundation, with the aim of subsidizing publication of literary writings by Slovenian authors in translation, which are then published by foreign publishers. At the same time this is a means to promote Slovenia, Slovenian literature and Slovenian writers abroad. The National and University Library is deeply interested in the efforts of the Foundation because one of its major tasks as a national library can be seen in collection, conservation and preservation of various editions of works by national authors in all languages available. The feeling of common interest and shared values has brought about successful and rewarding co-operation.

Editions, published with financial support from the Trubar Foundation and then donated to the National and University Library by the Foundation itself, will be displayed at the exhibition.

Author of the exhibition: Samo Kristan (NUK)

 From 23 June until 3 September 2005

RUDA JURČEC – 1905 – 1975
100th anniversary of his birth
The life of Ruda Jurčec, a novelist, essay writer, editor, journalist, man of politics, cultural organizer and a passionate collector of paintings, was split in two distinctive parts. He was born in Ormož, but his thirst for knowledge soon took him away from home to lead him to large cities – Maribor, Ljubljana and later on to Paris, where he had his degree in political science. Having completed his studies, he spent some time travelling across Europe, thus making several important political acquaintances. Really knowledgeable in the field of international politics, he returned to his homeland in 1934 to start his co-operation with the newspaper Slovenec. In a couple of years‛ time he was promoted to the position of editor-in-chief. In 1945 he emigrated with his wife, first to Austria, then Italy, and in 1947 he moved on to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In the second part of his life, in Argentina, he was deeply involved in the so-called »Slovene cultural miracle« - he offered his help wherever needed. He also counts among the co-founders of the Slovene Cultural Action (SKA), organization which has been taking care about the Slovene publications abroad for more than a half-century.
1950-69 can be considered as his most prolific period with most of his best writings published, thus the novel Ljubljanski triptih and a trilogy of memoirs, Skozi luči in sence. Besides, he spent a lot of time collecting paintings, Slovene impressionists in particular.

Author of the exhibition: Rozina Švent, MA (NUK)

 From 24 May until 18 June 2005

Dr KLEMENT JUG - 1898 – 1924
Klement Jug, a philosopher and alpine climber, happens to be one of the central, or even legendary personalities in the Slovene consciousness. Although his philosophical writings are few and remained sketched and fragmented, Jug is believed to put into practice what he wrote in his own life. The main postulates of his philosophy can be seen in the way he deals with the concept of the will and ethics, which gave him major concern during his exploits in the mountains. With ascetic devotion to the call from within, over a little more than two years he was able to accomplish ascents hardly imaginable in the Slovene alpine climbing. Ambitiously he strove to do the biggest possible number of the first ascents. He published the descriptions of his achievements in the Planinski vestnik, thus trying to enrapture young people to follow him, but only a few were able to do so with an equal amount of enthusiasm. During his last adventurous attempt in the Triglav North face (now bearing his name) he fell and died. Despite his young age his name went down into the history of the Slovene alpine climbing as a man who found the way where others had to stop.

Who was then Klement Jug – was he a Nietzsche fanatic, forcing his body and mind to the limits of human possibilities, or just an idealist, inexperienced and naive youth whose early death occurred under the burden of an unfulfilled love? Did he fall by accident in the Triglav North face, or perhaps he did it consciously? There are so many dilemmas related to his short, but active life, that after his death his name soon became a myth. An ever-growing myth which stimulates young climbers as it used to do in the 20-ies and 30-ies. Perhaps visitors of the exhibition will find answers for themselves, partly at least, when having a look at the generous bequest, received by the Library from his relatives some years ago.

Author of the exhibition: Marijan Rupert, MA (NUK)

 From 9 May until 21 May 2005

GREETING TO FREEDOM
60th anniversary of Liberation
The exhibition will coincide with the official end date of the WW II and will try to concentrate on the events of the moment: how the liberators were greeted by the population of the capital, what happened on 9 May 1945 and the following days, with an emphasis on the cultural area. Items on display will include manuscripts of authors, now held by the Manuscript Collection, and who directly intervened on the occasion: Oton Župančič, Josip Vidmar, Edvard Kocbek etc. It was the poet, Oton Župančič, to express those passionate feelings, saying: »… Who, but a culture person, having been forced to hide his thoughts, depress his feelings, bridle his anger, should greet the liberators with enthusiasm? For we too are an army, army of intellect, …, We are aware of what freedom of expression means, aware of all important duties we are faced with. …«
The exhibits will also include some music and pictorial items from the period, held by the Music and Graphic Collection.

Author of the exhibition: Rozina Švent, MSc

 From 14 April until 5 May 2005

ALMA KARLIN – 1889 – 1950
55th anniversary of her death

A globe-trotter, polyglot, and writer, Alma Maksimilijana Karlin was an exceptional personality.
Her penchant for travel and exploration of new, unusual lands, was already going strong before the WW I, for she travelled to Sweden and Norway after having completed her language studies in Graz, Paris and London.
In 1919 she returned to Celje, her birthplace, unable to find her peace of mind. So she resumed travelling. During 1919-28 she visited almost the entire world, thus South America, United States, Far East, Pacific Islands, Australia and Asia. While still on the way, she had already published numerous novels, travelogues and feuilletons in a number of newspapers and magazines, thus Cillier Zeitung, paper of the Celje German population. The most important works, including several travelogues, novels and ethnological writings, were published in the 30ies. Her work aroused attention from the Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf who proposed her for the Nobel Prize in Literature for the novel, entitled Laterna smrt.

Author of the exhibition: Gregor Erjavec (NUK)

 From 10 March until 2 April 2005

Dr RUDOLF TROFENIK - 1911 – 1991
In 1956 Rudolf Trofenik (holder of a PhD in Law and Philosophy) left for Munich as soon as »political seclusion« had ended. Though a renowned law scientist, once abroad he started from scratch: he established a publishing house and began publishing scientific works on culture and history of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He was a founder of a great many book collections dealing with Slovene, Slavonic, Balkan, Albanian and Hungarian studies. In 1980 he prepared a catalogue, listing those editions, Index titulorum apperatus.

From his extensive life-work the exhibition aims to display items speaking about Slovenes, Slovene culture, literature, and language, with topics as diverse as discussing the Freising Manuscripts and authors, such as Veber, Kopitar and Slodnjak.

Trofenik‛s publishing activities have had an international response – he was awarded many decorations and honorary titles, for instance, the Knight‛s Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the first place, his editions have promoted the Slovene authors within professional circles and have been critical to recognizing the Slovene identity in the world.

Author of the exhibition: Tatjana Kovač (NUK)

From 3 February until 4 March 2005

Dr BRATKO KREFT – 1905 – 1996
100th anniversary of his birth
Bratko Kreft was a versatile and multi-faceted author. His work is rooted in Slavonic studies, which he first studied in Vienna, together with comparative literature and literary theory. There he became familiar with working-class theatre, thus co-operating as a stage director in the 20ies. At the same time he was busy editing Fédération Balcanique, a bulletin of Kominterna and communist parties in the Balkans. He had his university degree in 1929 and a PhD in 1939, both in Ljubljana. Impressed by new theatrical trends, put forward by Majerhold, Vahtangov, Piscator and drama author Strindberg, he moved closer to the avant-garde. He contributed to the Tank magazine, after Kosovel‛s death he was editor of Mladina (1925-27), and in the 1932-35 period he was publishing and editing the first Slovene marxist periodical Književnost, as well as being one of the more important contributors. He belongs to the foremost drama authors of the social realism movement, for he was interested in social conflicts. This can be seen in his pre-war novel Človek mrtvaških lobanj, even put on trial. In spite of aggravating circumstances he was hired as a stage director in 1930 by the National Theatre in Ljubljana. Soon after the Italian occupation he was assigned the Turner grant and with a consent of the Communist Party and Liberation Front, he moved to Rome to study Russian literature at the Institute of Slavonic Studies. In 1942 he was arrested by the Italian authorities and emprisoned in Ljubljana. He remained under house arrest until the end of the war. In 1946 he returned to the Slovene National Theatre in Ljubljana, where he was engaged as a producer and stage director until his retirement in 1962. After 1945 he lived up to see his most successful stage work Kranjski komedijanti fully staged, previously forbidden by the Italian censorship. In the drama field his interests centered on Prešeren whose life and work inspired several radio and a movie screenplay. His literary criticism writings focused on Shakespeare, Pushkin, Dostoievsky and other Russian novelists and drama authors at the turn of the century, especially Strindberg, Brecht and Krleža. During 1957-62 he was a honorary professor at the Faculty of Arts (modern Russian literature), in 1961 he was elected a full member of the Slovene Academy of Science and Arts, and in 1976 its vice-president. Three times he was awarded the Prešeren national award (1948, 1957, 1975), and in 1975 the AVNOJ award.

Authors of the exhibition: Dr Mihael Glavan (NUK), Matjaž Lulik (NUK)