EACH EVENT HAS ITS OWN MAGIC While the Croatian public is enjoying seeing Italian masters as well as new young artists, musicians, dancers and writers, the Italian Cultural Institute in Zagreb is busy preparing the next magnificent cultural season
INTERVIEW
STEFANIA DEL BRAVO
Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Zagreb
I
taly and Croatia have been forging cultural links over the centuries, and they represent a fertile ground for today’s artistic exchange. The list of cultural works which the Croatian public had seen in the past years and those which are at present in the pipeline is impressive. There was the Caravaggio exhibition in the Museum of Art and Crafts, marking Croatia's entry into the EU, which was definitely one of the more memorable ones, with many others have followed. For example, last year, the public had an opportunity to see the splendour of Italian Baroque featuring Tiepolo, while at the end of this year, the Museum of Archaeology in Zagreb will become a setting for the virtual exhibition Master Giotto devoted to yet another Italian master. These cultural wonders are not reserved only for the citizens of the Croatian capital: many exhibitions, concerts and movies, which the Italian Cultural Institute in Zagreb has unveiling to the Croatian public for decades, are traveling all around the country. And while the immortal masters are always a
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delight for the eyes and soul, so are the young Italian artists who are presenting their talents to the Croatian fans of jazz, dance and written word. In her interview for Diplomacy and Commerce, Stefania Del Bravo, the Institute’s Director, is already busy planning the cultural calendar for the next year. Although it is too early to speak about the
SEATED IN A DARKENED SPACE, WITH THE MUSIC BY PAOLO FRESU PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND, VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO A NARRATION ABOUT GIOTTO’S PAINTINGS AND EXPLORE THE SMALLEST DETAILS OF HIS PAINTING TECHNIQUES
programme in detail, she reveals some of the content to our readers.
How high is the cultural and scientific exchange on the list of Italy's bilateral priorities in relations with Croatia? — Of course it’s very high up, due to the geographical proximity of the two countries and historical links. The Roman Empire extended to Istria and Dalmatia (Split's core is located right in the huge Diocletian Palace), and in the 12th century, Venice took power over Zadar and other towns in Dalmatia. We recently staged a four-day event in Zadar, emulating the ancient Silkroad, the long commerce route from Spain to China where differents cultures, languages, traditions and religions met and intersected, giving birth to very interesting cultural commissions. Venice was at the heart of the Silkroad in terms of its commerce and Zadar has been recently declared a part of the New Maritime Silkroad, so our event, which received very positive reviews and appreciation, has been really timely.
