Our history
the beginnings
The beginnings of the Mrzelj family hand weaving date back to 1970. Born in 1947, Majda Mrzelj graduated from Secondary School for Design and Photography, Ljubljana. Employed in the hand-weaving mill Dekorativna between 1968 and 1978, she gained long-term extensive experience as a designer. After the Carniolan Institute for Artistic Weaving in Ljubljana ceased to exist in 1909, Majda, together with renowned Slovenian painters, was the first to rediscover the technological secrets of cardboard-based hand weaving.
Since 1980 and until her retirement, she worked as a freelance designer in the field of hand weaving, registered with the Ministry of Culture. In addition to her own exhibitions, she also participated in numerous group exhibitions.
It should, however, be noted that a major contribution to her creations was made by her husband Peter, who in 1970 built her a hand loom which still serve their original purpose.
- 1990 Title Master of Handicraft and Symbol of Quality at the international Arts and Crafts exhibition in Slovenj Gradec
- 1993 Recognition on the arts and crafts exhibition Domus Ljubljana
- 1996 Selected for the DOS arts and crafts exhibition
Solo exhibitions
- 1985 Kasca Gallery, Verd Vrhnika
- 1994 Institute for Culture and Education Trzic, NOB Pavillion, Trzic
- 1996 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Theology, Ljubljana
- 2001 Gallery Stolp na vratih, Stanjel
Group exhibitions
- 1971 DOS retrospective exhibition, Arkade Gallery Ljubljana
- 1980 Tapestry Prishtina 1980, Art Gallery, Prishtina
- 1981 Annual DOS Exhibition, Rihard Jakopič Gallery, Ljubljana
- 1982 Unique textiles and ceramics, Pilon Gallery, Ajdovscina
- 1985 Slovenian crafts exhibition, Art Gallery J. Repanšek, Radomlje
- 1987 Unique weaving, embroidery, glass, Commerce Gallery, Ljubljana
- 1988 Arts and crafts, Culture Information Centre, Ljubljana
- 1990 International Exhibition of arts and crafts Alpe Adria, Art Pavilion, Slovenj Gradec
- 1992 DOS exhibition, Maribor Art Gallery, Maribor
- 1992 Designers Week, Tilia Insurance Company, Ljubljana
- 1993 DOS exhibition, Rihard Jakopič Gallery, Ljubljana
- 1993 Exhibition and sale of home and artificial crafts Domus, Ljubljana
- 1994 Annual DOS Exhibition, Tivoli Castle, Ljubljana
- 1996 DOS exhibition selection, Rihard Jakopič Gallery, Ljubljana Participation in all arts and crafts exhibitions in Slovenj Gradec from 1977 to 1994
References
Here are a few thoughts that were written when Majda Mrzelj was still actively working.
Among the few who committed themselves to weaving one can also find Majda Mrzelj. She uses weaving skills as the basis in fabric making and that alone requires different approaches in view of the fabric usage, choice of the materials, colors, etc. The human habitat surely represents a challenge for this kind of brainwork. The possibilities of exploring the role of fabrics in the environment we live in are endless. She creates the thread as she goes along; different structures are based upon different ways of weaving. The surface becomes the field of countless possibilities of structural changes, which taken as a whole, however, never represent a mere effectual emphasis, are never aggressive, but are dependent on the chosen weaving style, way of binding, thread duplicating.
Art historian Maja Krulc Kržišnik
Majda Mrzelj is successful in uniting the fidelity to tradition and modern technological achievements of the profession. Searching for her own unique formulation in a settled design structure, she can adapt to various even the most difficult tasks, intended either for practical or for decorative usage, whether in secular or sacral works. She excels in subtle color combinations, sensibly woven in the contents of the product. Her creativity consents with the intended purpose of the product. From these interlacements of the threads, breathe gravity and zeal, which draw us in only to revive us with their own playfulness.
Art historian Emilian Cevc
