The names of the best painters of the year are known

Jarmila Sabová Džuppová, Peter Cvik and Samuel Paučo became the best young painters of the year 2018. They were selected by an international jury, which evaluated the works of 128 painters entered in the 13th annual Maľba Competition. You can come to have a close look at the works of the finalists, exhibited at the Gallery Nedbalka in Bratislava, until 11 November 2018.

The prestige of the Malba competition is enhanced by the independent jury, which is composed of other great names every year, among renowned European visual artists, theoreticians, curators, gallerists and teachers. During the 13th annual competition this function was accepted by the following four gentlemen: Jiří Kovanda, visual artist and teacher (Czech Republic), David Fehér, art historian and curator (Hungary), Erik Šille, domestic renowned painter and teacher, and Michele Coppola, director of the Gallery d’Italia in Milan. The jury evaluated the works in two rounds. First it chose the final 20 works from 128 entered works and then, at the second meeting linked with examination of the originals of the finalist works, it selected the three best paintings.

3rd place

Jarmila Sabová Džuppová with her work called Kolotoč zarastený medzi orechom a čerešňou/Carrousel overgrown between a walnut-tree and a cherry-tree occupied the third place with a money prize of EUR 3,500. The jury was struck by the strong poetry of her work. It can be felt in the theme, the represented scene and the richness of colour. The unusual nostalgia and lyrics of her painting are supported by the high painter´s qualities. This work is dreamful, nostalgic, but also very narrative and strongly authentic.

2nd place

Peter Cvik with his painting Philosophers Nights / Hipsters Paradise occupied the second place and received funds in the amount of EUR 6,500 for his further work. The jury highly appreciated its complex structure and unusual superposition of the thematic and formal aspects. This intellectual painting oscillates between the post-modernism and the post-Internet, combines and superposes a number of themes, techniques and philosophical attitudes.

The Extra Award for the Best Painting

The international specialist jury agreed that the best work from among those entered this year was the painting by Samuel Paučo entitled F39. However, since this picture did not fulfill the criteria stipulated in the Maľba competition statutes, the Nadácia VÚB has decided not to award 1st place in the competition, along with the respective financial award. On the recommendation of the jury however, Samuel Paučo’s work will receive a special prize for the best picture, along with the appertaining public recognition.The picture of Samuel Paučo demonstrates a generous approach to the contemporary landscape painting. It captivated the jury by its unusual expressivity, which however radiates a strong sensuality, and by the way in which the author represents a simple theme and the portraying painter´s expression hits the edges of abstraction. The expressive painter´s gesture, abstraction combined with a realistic style of painting, and the surreal colours made this work special.

We sincerely congratulate to all the painters and share their joy from the achieved success.  

Art seen with one´s own eyes

In addition to the search for young professional talents, the mission of the Malba Competition is to mediate the high-quality visual art to the general public. Therefore this competition includes a public exhibition every year. The twenty finalist works, including works of 3 best painters of the year 2018, can be viewed until 11 November at the Gallery Nedbalka in Bratislava.