Boris Bućan

This exhibition highlights the extraordinary work of Boris Bućan, focusing on the monumental posters he designed for the Croatian National Theatre in Split between 1982 and 1986. These large-format posters, composed of six separate sheets of paper, transformed urban walls into vibrant canvases.

The design process for this exhibition tackled the challenge of reimagining a 15 x 20-foot gallery into an immersive space. Drawing inspiration from Bućan’s poster for La Traviata—a tribute to Zagreb’s iconic Kavana Corso bar, designed by architect Vjenceslav Richter—the gallery features a hand-painted full-wall mural that transforms the room into a glowing, sumptuous jewel box. The mural’s metallic gold shimmers like liquid sunlight, accented with bold black lines that echo the architectural elegance of the bar. Adjusted to follow the folds and contours of the walls, the mural plays with perspective, creating an illusion of depth and motion. Visitors are enveloped in a radiant, copper-gold ambiance that seems to vibrate with warmth and energy, providing a striking contrast to the colorful, textured posters displayed throughout the space. The result is an environment that feels both intimate and expansive, amplifying the sensory and emotional resonance of Bućan’s works.

The gallery is further activated with a tactile station designed to provide an inclusive experience for low- and no-vision visitors. This station includes:

• Swellform posters: Raised inks replicate textures from the original designs.

• Embroidery panels: Varied stitch patterns reinterpret poster imagery through touch.

• Braille translations: Exhibition text is fully translated into Braille for accessibility.

The interplay of the mural and tactile elements creates a multisensory experience, offering visitors new ways to engage with Bućan’s work and its historical context. All pull quotes featured in the exhibition are drawn directly from Boris Bućan himself, offering visitors a deeper look into the mind of this visionary designer.

The design’s minimal typography reflects the elegance and modernity of the posters, ensuring the focus remains on the visual and textural richness of the exhibition.

By turning a modest gallery into an immersive jewel box, this exhibition celebrates Bućan’s artistry while pushing the boundaries of how 2-dimensional posters can be experienced in a museum setting.