The wall composition for the hallway of the Faculty of Economics and Business, which is the work of the architect Branko Kocmut, was designed by Slavko Tihec. It is composed of sixteen square-shaped wooden cassettes, arranged along the wall in two rows. At first glance, the cassettes appear identical but upon closer examination we can see that they differ in the division of slats and in the concave and convex form of their reverse side, which is leaning against the wall. Due to the carefully considered variations, and the interplay of light and shadow, the composition appears to vibrate. Its dynamic appearance is further enhanced by the undulation of the concave and convex forms, which is linked to Tihec’s playfulness and his desire to create an optical illusion, since the cassettes are actually perfectly aligned. Thus, the composition dominates an otherwise white, neutral space and immediately attracts the attention of the viewer climbing the stairs.
The composition resembles Tihec’s Containers, and reveals, along with his Aquamobiles and Spirals (Polževke) cycles, his intimate interest in various visual effects. Spirals were based on the movement of a spiral as initiated by the water current, while Aquamobiles, circular plastic straps of varying diameters, “floated” about in containers of water. The sculptor later created several monuments that bear witness to his distinctive layering style, (among them the Liberation Monument in Maribor).
(Jure Donša, in the framework of the Creative Path to Knowledge project, Virtual guide; The investment is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union from the European Social Fund)