In our weekly art feature, we bring you a selection of cultural events and exhibitions in various places on the Adriatic coast.
This week is marked by a special occasion, the International Museum Day that falls on Thursday, May 18th. It's not easy to narrow down the number of events, but to avoid overloading you with suggestions, here's a list of five things worth seeing:
1) Colours in Dubrovnik
The Ethnographic Museum located in Rupe granary is housing an interesting touring exhibition coming from the Technical Museum Nikola Tesla in Zagreb, titled "Nature - the Laboratory of Colours: Traditional technological knowledge". The content on display makes up for that mouthful of a title, opening up a world of colours made from natural resources. Even though it's a guest exhibition, in a way it's coming home because it's based on a research project carried out in Dubrovnik's surroundings during 2015 and 2016. You can see samples of plants that can be processed to extract colour pigments, along with exhibits explaining every following step until you end up with pure colour. Even though the exhibition isn't aimed at a specific audience, children will probably enjoy it a lot due to numerous interactive components.
Where: Ethnographic Museum Dubrovnik, Od Rupa 3
When: May 18th – July 17th
2) Bathing suits in Cres
(Image source: the Croatian Museum of Tourism)
Another touring exhibition, another attractive topic. The island of Cres feels like a perfect destination for an entertaining ensemble of photos and objects that speak about the history of... bathing suits! Originally displayed in the Croatian Museum of Tourism in Opatija, the exhibition is titled "Life on the Beach – Adria Bathing Fashion". We've all probably giggled once or twice upon seeing what people used to wear to the beach in the good old days, so consider this a perfect opportunity to see actual vintage bathing suits along with a lot of delightful visual material dating from 1880 to 1970.
Where: Cres Museum, Ribarska ulica 7, 51557 Cres
When: May 16th – June 28th
3) Lokrum in Rijeka
(Image source: MMSU Rijeka)
Yes, you read that right. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka becomes a temporary home for a mesmerising photo exhibition, one of whose subjects is the small island of Lokrum near Dubrovnik. Titled "In the Long Run", the selection of photos taken by Antun Maračić includes parts of his work that were either conceived as long-term projects or have spontaneously taken a long time to come to a close. The Lokrum series is especially hypnotising, as the photos were all taken from the same spot in the Museum of Modern Art in Dubrovnik between 2010 and 2012 when Maračić served as museum director. This particular fragment of the exhibition shows how numerous images of the same subject can have a different feel to them, resulting in a tangible quality that turns an ordinary island into a fascinating sight to behold.
Where: the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Dolac 1/II, Rijeka
When: May 15th – June 4th
4) Meštrović in Split
(Image source: Meštrović Gallery Facebook)
It wouldn't be a proper list of art events in Croatia if it didn't include some Meštrović, eh? The stunning Meštrović Gallery will be the place of an interesting programme organised on the International Museum Day, called "Secret Mythology" and designed as a sort of scavenger hunt. While walking around the gallery, visitors will learn about motives and symbols from the classical and Slavic mythologies that Meštrović often used to feature in his work. Educational materials will be hidden in multiple places, enabling the visitors to collect various pieces and assemble their own book of sculptures. There's also going to be a kids' corner where children will be provided with colouring patterns featuring outlines of Meštrović's statues.
Where: The Meštrović Gallery, Split
When: May 18th
5) Blood in Novigrad
(Image source: Art a Part of Culture)
Let's end with some visual controversy. The Rigo Gallery, part of the Lapidarium Museum in the Istrian town of Novigrad, will house a guest exhibition coming from Italy, titled "Blood of Women: Red Traces on White Canvas". It's a project questioning the symbolic nuances of regarding male blood as something heroic and brave, whereas female blood has been shrouded by a veil of shame throughout history. Curator Manuela de Leonardis asked more than 20 women artists worldwide to depict their own view of the subject using linen as canvas – the same type of linen women once used to make menstrual pads.
Where: Galerija Rigo, Velika Ulica 5, 52466 Novigrad
When: May 20th - June 6th
