October 30, 2020 – More artistic creativity from the Zagreb tourism chiefs, as ‘Izvan Okvira’ takes the Croatian capital’s art beyond the boundaries and out of the box.
One of the most interesting things is this most extraordinary of years is to observe how people and organisations have responded to these uniquely challenging set of circumstances. Some that I expected to respond creatively went totally silent, while others surprised in the opposite direction.
In terms of tourism promotion, this has been a particularly challenging year. How do you attract tourists when budgets are cut, travel restrictions imposed, and COVID-19 measures introduced?
For many destinations in Croatia and beyond, the answer has been simple – sit and wait until next year and hope for better times.
But there is one destination in Croatia which has been consistently coming up with innovative solutions and initiatives throughout the year to provide new tourism content to meet the demands of the new reality.
Zagreb.
While others have had to deal with the effects of a global pandemic, Zagreb had the added tragedy of the devastating earthquake of March 22.
Zagreb had easily the best promotion during lockdown and after the earthquake. Innovative campaigns such as Zagreb Loves You and From Zagreb Balconies kept the destination in tourists’ minds – and if they couldn’t travel right now, they could build up their desire to do so in the future, with campaigns to show every part of the city.
My favourite tourism initiative of the year was also from Zagreb – and a very simple but effective one at that. With the new reality pointing to more outdoor activity away from confined space, the city and county of Zagreb teamed up to streamline their tourist offer in a new initiative called Around Zagreb.
By combining the sights and activities of The Great Outdoors of both the city and the county, the tourism experience is enhanced considerably. And there were plenty of new things to learn and try. Did you know, for example, that truffle hunting is quite popular in the forests around the city? Here is our fun experience in Turopolje recently.
But how to celebrate art and culture, especially if some of the city’s art galleries and museums are off-limits due to earthquake damage?
Think out of the box, embrace The Great Outdoors, and go beyond the boundaries, of course. And that is exactly what a new art and cultural exhibition is doing in various galleries in the capital from October 27 to November 27.
‘Izvan Okvira’ (Beyond the Boundaries) is the latest expression of art to hit Zagreb. The exhibition is addressing the issue of art in public spaces, with a particular focus on the topic of renewal in Zagreb, as the city looks to rebuild after the devastating earthquake earlier this year. Rather than use the internal space of the participating galleries, the art has been moved outside to their facades.
(Photo credit Boris Bare)
Using the buildings of the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the School of Applied Arts and Design, the Gradec Gallery and the Art Pavilion, the creative team of Nas Dve (literally, ‘Us Two’, Ana Mikin and Tina Kovačiček) and selected artists, these buildings have their art transformed ‘out of the box’ to create temporary open-air galleries, with exhibitions which reflect the history of the building, current situation and regeneration of the city after this year’s tragic events.
Each of these locations is arranged by individual artists, so street art artist Boris Bare and sculptor Ivo Gašparić will set up an installation “Outside” at the Gradec Gallery. The art pavilion will be included with two installations “New Landscape” and “Temporarily Closed” signed by artists Maša Barišić and Jelena Malenica, and sculptor Ida Blažičko will place “Hommage Bolléu” on the facades of the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the School of Applied Arts and Design.
At a press conference announcing Izvan Okvira, Zagreb Tourist Board Director Martina Bienenfeld said:
“Over the next month, we will be able to enjoy this unique project that beautifies and enriches the public space, revitalizes the city and provides a special art experience. Although, unfortunately, some of the locations are currently unable to invite visitors to tour the exhibition, with the intervention of our artists a particular building becomes a work of art, emphasizing the poetic idea that buildings have their own identity and soul. I thank the director of MUO, Mr. Miroslav Gašparović, then the director of the Klovićevi dvori Gallery, Mr. Antonio Picukarić, and the director of the Art Pavilion, Mrs. Jasminka Poklečki Stošić, as well as the School of Applied Arts and Design, who recognized this project and enabled us to realize it.”
A little more detail on some of the exhibitions has been provided by the Zagreb Tourist Board:
1) MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CRAFTS & SCHOOL OF APPLIED ARTS AND DESIGN
Ida Blažičko – Hommage to Bollé
The site-specific intervention on the façade of the historic palace built between 1887 and 1891 in the spirit of the German Renaissance was dedicated to the architect Herman Bollé. After the devastating earthquake in 1880, he became known as the restorer and builder of the Croatian metropolis.
The Hommage to Bollé installation is inspired by boundless biomorphic motifs that permeate the Museum of Arts and Crafts and the School of Crafts, today’s School of Applied Arts and Design. The interior fences of the gallery are woven from stylized organic details with shapes that clearly foreshadow Art Nouveau.
2) ART PAVILION
Maša Barišić & Jelena Malenica – New landscape
A metal sculpture “growing” for a month, slowly covering the steps at the entrance of the Art Pavilion, temporarily closed after the earthquake. The reminder of a natural disaster becomes a garden covered with plants; metal ivy, a symbol of life and art that still lives and blooms, even in impossible conditions. Just like a self-seeding plant.
Maša Barišić – Temporarily closed
The earthquake caused the temporary closing of the buildings functioning as museums or art galleries. Having lost the ability to work, these buildings are left without their function, standing as a reminder of
the wounded city, in anticipation of a “revival”. Although the Art Pavilion is currently unable to invite visitors for the exhibition tours, through the artist’s intervention it becomes an artwork itself, inviting citizens to observe from the outside. The light emerges through the windows and pulsates in the rhythm of the heartbeat unique to living beings, emphasizing the poetic idea that buildings have their own identity and soul.
3) KLOVIĆEVI DVORI GALLERY & GRADEC GALLERY
Boris Bare & Ivo Gašparić – Outside
Large, framed paintings with motifs inspired by the content of the Klovićevi dvori Gallery are “coming out” of the gallery space and are placed on the neglected facade of the Gradec Gallery, turning it into an exhibiting wall for artwork. Oversized sculptures represent the audience which is an integral part of the exhibition, while accidental or intentional passers-by become part of the artwork on the spot.
You can follow Izvan Okvira on the official Zagreb Tourist Board Facebook page.
For the latest news from the Croatian capital, follow the dedicated TCN Zagreb section.
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