ZAGREB, Dec 28 (Hina) - An exhibition entitled "Croatians - Religion, Culture, Arts", staged in the Vatican Museums on October 28 this year was the most important cultural event in 1999, Croatia's Culture Minister told Hina on
Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Dec 28 (Hina) - An exhibition entitled "Croatians -
Religion, Culture, Arts", staged in the Vatican Museums on October
28 this year was the most important cultural event in 1999,
Croatia's Culture Minister told Hina on Tuesday. #L#
"With that exhibition Croatians were offered an exceptional
opportunity to present themselves in one of the world richest
museums on eve of the Great Jubilee, 2000 years since Christ's
birth. This most important project of the Croatian art abroad has
showed Croatia's contribution to the West European culture and
spirituality since the 7th century up to date," Minister Bozo
Biskupic said.
This year saw important exhibitions such as the Exhibition of
Ottoman Arts staged in Zagreb with assistance of the Istanbul-based
TOP-KAI museum, on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the
Osmanli cultural and scholarly heritage, which was marked all over
the world this year under the UNESCO auspices, the Minister added.
"I maintain that the 700th anniversary of the Diocese of Sibenik was
very well marked, and those events were crowned by the opening of
the exhibition "To the Glory of God (Na Slavu Bozju)" in Sibenik
last year and in Zagreb this year," he told hina.
He mentioned the conclusion of the cycle of shows of works of the
contemporary Croatian plastic arts. The final event was held in
"Klovicevi Dvori" in Zagreb.
In 1999, the third Triennale of drawings was held, and it assumed
international characteristics, Biskupic said adding that Croatia
was represented at the Venetian Biennale with works by Zlatan
Vrkljan.
This year will be remembered for the brilliant archaeological
finding of a bronze statue under sea near the islet of Vela Orjula
(near Mali Losinj). The statue is believed to be some 2000 years
old.
This year, the Culture Ministry showed the continued care for the
protection and restoration of works of arts. During preparations
for the Vatican show, many pieces of art and heritage were restored.
In addition, offices of Heritage Authorities were open in Pula,
Pozega and Gospic.
A project of the Museum of Contemporary Arrts was adopted, and the
building of that museum will commence in the spring next year,
Minister Biskupic said.
This year, the construction of the Museum of Early Man started in
the northern town of Krapina, and Croatia celebrated the 100th
anniversary of the birth of its great scholar, Dragutin Kramberger,
who made the Krapina archaeological site world famous.
He cited the beginning of the construction of a museum at the
archaeological site of Nerona at Vid near Metkovic (southern
Croatia) and of a museum of the contemporary sculpture in the open
at Dubrova near Labin (Istria) as important events in 1999.
He pointed to the opening of a new library in the coastal town of
Zadar. This library is outfitted according to most up-to-date
standards.
As regard the publishing the Minster voiced satisfaction with the
introduction of the zero rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT) for books
and the publishing industry.
He pointed to the beginning of publishing of the Croatian
Encyclopaedia as the most significant project of the "Miroslav
Krleza" lexicographic institute.
Croatia marked two important anniversaries from the world
literature - the 250th anniversary of Goethe's birth and the 200th
anniversary of Pushkin's birth.
Relating to music, Minister viewed the Musical Biannale Zagreb - a
festival of contemporary musical achievements - as a major event.
There were several guest performances and one of the most
significant for Biskupic was the appearance of the Hungarian State
Opera that performed "Le Grand Macaber" by G. Ligeti.
As regards the cinematic art, Biskupic was pleased to see the
success of Croatian movies aboard, particularly of "The Red Dust"
by Zrinko Ogresta that has won several international awards so
far.
(hina) ms