Equrna Gallery is considered to be one of the first private galleries in former Yugoslavia. It was founded in December 1984 by a group of younger artists and art historians. They registered already in 1982 and acted under the name Permanent Working Community of Artists as Sole Proprietors. Initially (from 1984 to 1991) Equrna resembled artist-run spaces. The term refers to a type of gallery that focuses on exhibiting the latest production of works and the most contemporary art practices and also the establishing of a very direct contact between artists and gallery audience. In little less than a decade Equrna gallery managed to put up almost a hundred exhibitions, took part in art fairs, for example the Basel and Los Angeles art fairs and collaborated with many domestic and foreign artists. Many roundtables, talks and lectures took place in the gallery and it was also a place of meetings, confrontations of views and socialising. This ambitious way of working led to Equrna becoming one of the most important contemporary art exhibition spaces in Slovenia, besides the Museum of Modern Art, Coastal Galleries and Škuc Gallery. Even though Equrna also made attempts to establish itself internationaly, it seems to be important first and foremost as a private gallery in the local, Slovenian environment. Good bussines leadership, supported by expert writing on the exhibited art, enabled Equrna to quickly establish itself as a trademark. Many younger artists, who collaborated with Equrna, achieved a career breakthrough and became important figures of Slovenian postmodern art. Since 1991 Equrna has been operating as a private institution.
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