The University Library in Bratislava is hosting the exhibition of artistic photography of traditional Slovak folk costumes “SILENT BEAUTY” by photographer Peter Brenkus as part of the ongoing “2023 European Heritage Days”, under the current theme of “Living Heritage”; this event is also held as a specialised exhibition on the occasion of active participation in the first-ever European Folk Day, to be inaugurated on Saturday 23 September 2023.

The photographer Peter Brenkus, in his artistic photographs, has captured traditional folk costumes from across Slovakia, as well as folk costumes of the Lowland Slovaks living in the Serbian Vojvodina. The Slovak folk costumes in the artistic photographs are worn mostly by members of various folklore ensembles, but also by ordinary people who were approached by photographer for this exceptional project. The exhibition thus captures all generations in unique folk costumes, from children to the elderly, for whom folk clothing was until only recently part of their everyday life, and who are the last authentic bearers of this cultural heritage.

The photographer Peter Brenkus is the author and co-author of artistic picture books depicting Slovak folk environment Dance, the popular experiential encyclopaedia Draped in Beauty, the multilingual encyclopaedia Slovak Folk Costumes, and the exclusive book Poetry in Folk Costumes/Folk Costumes in Poetry, where his photographs are complemented by the immortal verse of the great Slovak poet Milan Rúfus.

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