Mihael Frančić & Manuela Pauk

ENERGY RESERVOIRS 

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September 2nd - 26th 2025

exhibition opening: Tuesday, September 2nd at 8PM

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The exhibition Energy Reservoirs presents and connects the works of Mihael Frančić Empire and Manuela Pauk Hecate’s Deposits into a new whole that tells the story of the driving and destructive energy of nature - but also that of society; its sources, (in)exhaustibility, cycles and transformations that arise in the process.

 

Frančić’s work, created from organic material - coffee - refers to changes in the urban fabric that occurred under the influence of megalomaniac impulses, and is a continuation of his practice of questioning capitalism and its impact on our lives. It is an installation that was created for almost two years (2022-2024), including in Prostor, and was first presented in 2024 in the gallery Kvart in Split. The work was later exhibited again, and its deinstallations and reinstallations left their mark on the fragile material. Therefore, this exhibition is partly also a story about the life of artistic work - its circularity, disintegration and new life, the potential for further deconstruction during the duration of the exhibition, as well as its recontextualization in relation to other works with which it comes into communication. Experimenting with coffee as a building material, but also its meaning for humans as a source of energy and the role of productivity fuel, especially in the context of today's capitalist system, Frančić builds his Empire (which, symbolically, rises and falls), creating almost apocalyptic visions of some kind of isolated urban area and creating an ambience aftermath.

 

The installation is invaded by the elements of Manuela Pauk's work Hecate's Deposits, produced for this exhibition and inspired by the energy forces that move the world. Referring to Hecate, the Greek goddess of the underworld, these works speak to the energy that drives the world, from the geological depths to the surface; about transitions and transformations, conflicts and calms, about life and death that are constantly intertwined. According to ancient mythology, Zeus granted Hecate dominion over the land, sea and underworld, and she was known for drawing her strength from within herself, not depending on anyone or submitting to anyone, not even Zeus. She is often associated with the symbolism of the crossroads, as a signifier of life and energy transitions. Opposing the intended organization, uniformity and order of Frančić's sculptures, Manuela's works spark with playfulness and unbridled energy, thus contrasting the mythological and divine with man-made and the apparent control of the human. At the same time solid and fragile, they are placed in such a way that the visitors circulate among them with caution, following the paths in the gallery space through which the works guide them. Placed in this way within the exhibition, the works of the two artists communicate with each other, complement each other and together create a new story, without answering the question of what happened or what is yet to happen, but opening up to the numerous possible scenarios.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mihael Frančić (1998, Split) graduated from the School of Fine Arts in Split in 2017 and in 2023 obtained an MA at the Department of Painting at the Academy of Arts in Split, in the class of professors Viktor Popović and Neli Ružić. He has presented his work in several solo exhibitions - Premieres 77 at Loggia / Center for Culture and Lifelong Learning Zlatna vrata in Split (2020), and ''De-Generation'' at the Gallery Škola in Split (2022), ''Beheading'' at the Club Zona in Split (2022), four exhibitions entitled ''Ennui'' at the Galum, Kortil, Šira and Waldinger galleries in 2022 and 2023 and ''Empire'' at the KVART gallery in Split, in 2024. He participated in the student group exhibitions Novi Horizonti in Ružić Gallery, Slavonski Brod, in 2020, in the 4th International Student Biennale Greatest Hits, MKC Split, in the group exhibition Work, text, context (because error is part of consciousness) in Milesi Palace, Split and in SC Gallery, Zagreb, in the student exhibition "Southwest-Northeast" in the Kuva / Tila gallery at the Academy of Arts in Helsinki, Finland and in the group exhibition "SA-STA-VI, NA-STA-VI, RA-STA-VI" in the Art Gallery Split.

Manuela Pauk (Zagreb, 1994; grew up in Šibenik) graduated in sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb (2018) in the class of prof. Peruško Bogdanić. In his work, she explores the relationship between civilization and nature through spatial installations and sculptures. She exhibited at numerous solo and group exhibitions. Among the most notable are: Y–Z Construction Site of the New Generation (NMMU, Zagreb, 2025), Glowing Globe: Anthropocene Art (Kortil Gallery, Rijeka, 2025), About Stories and Things – Golden Watermelon (Metamedij / MSUI, Pula, 2024), Situation – Youth Salon (HDLU / Archaeological Museum, Zagreb), Sculpture Triennial (HIS, Zagreb), Ceramics Biennial (Aveiro, Portugal), 90 Days Lockdown (Luxelakes Gallery, Chengdu, China), 40th Split Salon (2018). She was a finalist for the Golden Watermelon Award (2022, 2024) and the 40th Split Salon. Her works are in the collections of the City of Aveiro (Portugal) and the Croatian Museum of Natural History (Zagreb).

 

 

**As part of the exhibition, Manuela's work Monument Along the Road is also presented, initially during the exhibition opening in front of Prostor’s entrance, and then in its coworking section.

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Curator: Jasmina Šarić / Assistant: Željka Ivančić / Technical setup: Marin Renić / photos: Glorija Lizde​​