A multimedia exhibition called “Croatia je Hrvatska” will be on display in Grič tunnel from September 16 to November 1, marking the beginning of a rich tourist and cultural programme in Zagreb this autumn.
The exhibition was announced at a press conference in Zagreb’s Grič tunnel on Tuesday, with representatives of Croatia osiguranje organizers, Zagreb Tourist Board and the City of Zagreb, and authors and designers agreed that the exhibition would show the unbreakable bond between people and the city, history and culture, politics and economics, as well as numerous historical and modern technologies.
“The exhibition in the four sections of Grič tunnel will be a time machine taking visitors through 13 decades, from the1890s to 2017, from August Šenoa, Ivan Vončina and Gjuro Deželić to Nikola Tesla and his influence, until WWII and the period after it. The exhibition also follows the history of Croatia’s oldest insurance company, founded in 1874, and its impact on everyday life of people, as well as political and economic trends,” said the author of the concept, Božo Skoko.
He also said that the exhibition would reveal many unknown details from Croatian history and culture, such as the fact that the first football match in Croatia was played in Županja, and that Šenoa, Vončina, Deželić and many others initiated the creation of Croatia osiguranje.
In collaboration with designer Davor Bruketa and designers from Brigada, Grič tunnel will also be illuminated in a unique way for this occasion, and exhibits, from photos to devices, will be displayed on building elements of metal. Each section of the tunnel will also offer different emotions, moods and atmosphere of a particular period of history through multimedia, digital and interactive installations, projections, as well as water, rain, sounds, musical background and other visual and sensory content.
The main attraction will be the so-called rain room with real rain, which will show holograms of Marija Jurić Zagorka, A. G. Matoš, Ban Josip Jelačić, Manda (from the legend about Manduševac), Vatroslav Lisinski and other historical and cultural figures in drops of water.
“The exhibition is a great project that we have been preparing for the past three years, because when we incorporated Croatia osiguranje to Adris system, we promised to keep and promote the values of the company’s long tradition. This serves as a contribution to awaken the essential elements of history and everyday life, as well a message that key values never get old,” said Corporate Communications Director Predrag Grubić.
Zagreb Tourist Board CEO Martina Bienenfeld emphasized that this exhibition is an introduction to the rich tourist and cultural autumn in Zagreb, as well as the most important event to take place until the end of the year, together with the Christmas market.
“Grič tunnel has become a cult place and one of the most important attractions of the city a year and a half ago, and this exhibition will surely contribute to promoting its status even further. I would like to invite all citizens and tourists to come see the exhibition, the entrance is free,” said Ms Bienenfeld.
Mayor Bandić agrees that both the tunnel and the exhibition are very important for the city.
“I’ve lost my voice again, so I cannot talk much, but I’m happy that the tunnel’s main function is not only taking people from one point to the other, but also offering fantastic events and attracting people both in summer and in winter. I hope that other companies will follow the example of Croatia osiguranje and will do their promotions and other events here, because Croatia je Hrvatska exhibition represents something great and new,” Mayor Bandić concluded.
The opening ceremony will take place on September 15, and it will open for public on September 16.
