When the menace helps fill the blank canvas
The article describes the eighth edition of the international painting gathering 'Fecit' held at the municipal gallery Fonticus in Grožnjan, Istria, Slovenia, during July. Eleven artists from Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, and the Štěrže Mountains participated, creating nine paintings, two sculptures, and other works. The event was attended by various cultural figures, including mayor Claudio Stocovaz, who praised Grožnjan’s continued status as an artistic city. The event also highlighted the town’s rich cultural heritage through art and music, including the International Cultural Center of Croatian Youth Music and festivals like Jazz is Back!. Curator Eugen Borkovsky emphasized the tradition-building aspect of Fecit, noting the collaborative spirit among participants. Selector Ivan Perić noted that fewer artists joined this year, but they had more time to engage and create, resulting in high-quality artworks.
In late July, the town of Grožnjan on the Istrian peninsula hosted its eighth international painting gathering known as Fecit. The event took place at the municipal gallery Fonticus, where eleven artists from Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro, nine painters and sculptors, created new works over the course of seven days. Their completed pieces will remain on display until next week. The gathering brought together artists of different generations, all tasked with drawing inspiration from Grožnjan’s artistic legacy and either completing or creating entirely new artworks during their stay. The tradition of Grožnjan as an artist's haven dates back to 1965, according to Mayor Claudio Stocovaz, who spoke at the exhibition opening last Wednesday. He highlighted how the town has maintained its identity as a small summer capital of universal art despite political changes over time. This has been largely due to visual arts, but also music, including the International Cultural Centre for Croatian Youth, which has operated since 1969. Additionally, the annual Jazz is Back! festival, first organized in 1999 by renowned Croatian musician Boško Petrović, and other major cultural events such as the autumn Ex Tempore festival have contributed to Grožnjan’s reputation. Eugen Borkovsky, curator of the Fonticus Gallery and art critic, noted at the opening that the tradition continues through the desire to create new cultural achievements. With this year’s gathering marking the eighth consecutive event, the Fecit meetings have brought together 71 artists from six former Yugoslav countries since 2018, producing a total of 125 artworks. Among the participants were Jernej Forbici, Edita Kadirić, Saša Marjanović, Jovanka Mladenović, Maja Obradović, Ivan Gračner, Marijana Rakićević, Milena Vukoslavović, Jovana Tucović Borovac, Teo Kiš, and Luisa Pascu. Ivan Perić, selector and collector, mentioned that fewer artists attended compared to previous years, but this did not affect the quality of the event. He observed that the smaller group allowed more time for interaction and collaboration among the artists, resulting in excellent artistic output. Nine paintings and two sculptures were presented, some using more realistic approaches. The presence of younger artists added energy to the gathering. The Milan Tucović Award, named after one of the event’s founders and given annually since 2021, was awarded this year to Montenegrin artist Milena Vukoslavović. She received the award based on her peers' votes, with Jovanka Mladenović taking second place and Jovana Tucović Borovac third. Milena Vukoslavović, attending the event for the first time and visiting Grožnjan for the first time, described the experience of meeting new friends and being inspired by the town itself, Istria, and the studio work. She had already completed approximately 80% of her painting before arriving and finished it within three to four days. Similarly, Jovanka Mladenović shared her first-time experience at Fecit, highlighting the unique atmosphere and creative opportunities offered by the event.
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