Bermuda's art enthusiasts are in for an intriguing experience at the ACE Gallery's latest exhibition of work by Croatian artist Josip Generalic. Generalic is generally recognised as one of the world's most gifted na|0xef|ve painters, whose works are sure to enchant the observer with their vibrant colours and fantastical images.

This is a unique collection. It features some of the best examples of Croatian na|0xef|ve painting, and includes a total of 50 paintings created by the artist over a 20-year period.

The show, which is part of the ACE collection, opens to the public today in the ACE Gallery at its global headquarters on Woodbourne Avenue. It will run until the end of August.

The most striking feature of Croatian na|0xef|ve artwork is its methodology: oil painting on the reverse side of pieces of laminated glass. This distinctive technique of painting was developed so that the art could be viewed through glass, which allows for the colours to be seen much more vividly than paintings on canvas.

An artist paints his signature first, and then works in layers until the glass is completely covered, allowing each coat to dry before beginning the next. The painting then appears to the viewer in the exact reverse from the artist's rendering.

Most of the paintings in the ACE collection use this method, which accounts for the vividness of the colours, and the enduring crispness of the people and the vegetation depicted.

The simplicity of the subject matter is drawn from the farmland surroundings of Josip Generalic's home in Hlebine, Croatia.

In the post-war period, when Generalic was painting extensively, scenes of everyday life from the village, festivals, livestock, holiday celebrations, and often harvests, were the subject of his work.

"We are very pleased to be exhibiting Josip Generalic for the first time. He is one of the most gifted na|0xef|ve painters and this collection is a testament to his acumen," Brian Duperreault, chairman of ACE Limited, said.

"This imaginative and inventive body of work originally graced the walls of Romanoff's restaurant in Hamilton. We often admired the collection until, when the restaurant closed we were able to take advantage of a rare opportunity to acquire the works and enhance ACE's art collection."

Josip Generalic is the son Ivan Generalic who was instrumental in establishing in 1932 The Hlebine School, the cradle of what is known as Croatian na|0xef|ve art. Most of the artists came from in and around Hlebine, a small village in the northern part of Croatia, formerly Yugoslavia.

The works of the Hlebine School can be distinguished into two stylistic and thematic periods. In the prewar period socio-critical themes prevailed as a reflection of the social environment at the time, and in the postwar period, scenes of everyday village life became the central theme. During his lifetime, Josip Generalic displayed his na|0xef|ve artworks in more than 1,000 collective exhibitions, and has been awarded and recognised as one of the top na|0xef|ve painters in the world.

Josip Generalic died on December 22, 2004. His son Goran, also an artist, continues to paint in the na|0xef|ve genre.

The ACE Gallery features various exhibitions of work from its own collection and work by local artists. It is open to the public Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Groups are welcome, but should call ahead for an appointment. For further information ( 295-5200.