ROVINJ ART COLONY: THIRTY-THREE ARTISTS EXHIBITED THEIR WORK IN THE NATIVE MUSEUM OF THE TOWN OF ROVINJ
The Native Museum of the Town of Rovinj was the venue of the opening ceremony for the 51st traditional exhibition given by the Rovinj Art Colony. 33 art creators exhibited their work, including some art pioneers from Rovinj, but younger authors as well, exhibiting their work for the first time at this significant art event.
Director of the Native Museum Argeo Curto gave a speech, particularly addressing the fact that “the founders of the Art Colony also exhibit here, as well as the artists who have just graduated or still attend the university, which makes this exhibition dynamic and top event of Rovinj art summer”, and pointed out that “this year’s layout is more beautiful and solid, which we have the Colony Presidency to thank for – this time they were somewhat stricter in selecting works for the purpose of maintaining quality«.
The Colony dates from 1953 when four artists and its founders - Bruno Masacrelli, Zora Matić, Marcelo Brajnović and Žarko Naumović, gathered in an art group called Valdibora, exhibited their work. Afterwards came Slobodan Vuličević, Biserka Baretić and Lidija as the initial nucleus of what Rovinj Art Colony is today – namely, a significant art event that has discovered and still discovers names without which the image of Croatian modern and contemporary art would be unthinkable.
The
coexistence of the artists and Rovinj, as a town where Mediterranean
cultures have intermingled for centuries, is truly exceptional.
The Colony was and still is not only a place where artists of all generations
meet, but also an event that has substantially contributed to the cultural
prosperity of the environment. Specifically, the Art Colony is held under
the Native Museum, which is proud to have the only permanent contemporary
art layout in Istria today – Croatian Modern Art and Rovinj Art Cricle.
Through all these years the artists have made an indelible contribution
to the town’s identity with their work and creativity, many of them by
staying and living in Rovinj as well. That is why today, Rovinj can be
proud not only of this art event, but numerous other exhibitions as well,
putting Rovinj on the significant art events map of Croatia. Throughout
its history, the Colony has been marked by a series of the most important
names of Croatian painting, and one should not put aside the fact that
it has nurtured and discovered many significant features of the local
art scene, without which the contemporary Croatian art would not be what
it is.
We
should certainly point out the many years of continuity and survival
of the event as a rare example of stability, just like the entire Rovinj
art circle. “The Rovinj Art Colony is the general place of Croatian modern
and contemporary art. It is a lasting mental and emotional laboratory
challenging the ability and power in art languages”, wrote, among other
things, Gorka Ostojić-Cvajner, concluding that “without it, the town
would be less of a town, its culture would be less cosmopolitan, and
art would lack the best image of itself.«
The
Art Colony selected its laureates again this year, based on the vote
by the panel comprising art historians: Gorka Ostojić-Cvajner, Nataša
Ivančević and Sabina Salamon. Because of what has been said so far, we
would like to highlight the award given by the Native Museum of the Town
of Rovinj reserved for a young participant, which rightfully went to
academic sculptor Andrija Milovan.
Other than that, the Native Museum’s first award was presented to Siniša
Majkus, and the second to Gualtiero Mocceni, whereas the first and second
purchase awards went to Sanja Švrljuga and Bane Milenković respectively.
The honorary award from the Town of Rovinj was presented to Živko Haramija.
Domagoj TERZIĆ, Glas Istre 03.08.2004.
