Zagreb tunnel Grič became the most visited city destination this fall thanks to multimedia exhibition Croatia is Hrvatska. This is currently the most visited exhibition in Croatia. From 16 of September almost 80 000 visitors walked through 133 years of Croatian time travel. Some 2,000 citizens of Croatia were co contributors themselves, and there were many from abroad.
Citizens as co authors of the exhibition
It is en ever changing exhibition, people are bringing daily new exhibits such as photographs, and it will be completed a week before closure on the 1st of November. So, the citizens and others are contributing greatly to the exhibition. Almost 2,000 people contributed every day bringing personal photographs of themselves their friends and their families showing their family history.
They’ve put these historic photographs on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using hashtag #PovijestPisemoSami with a short description of the photograph.
So far there are 180 panels on view with over 2,500 private photos showing history not necessarily written by the greats like Šenoa, Tesla or Ban Jelačić but somebody’s granny, father or mother.
Visits by primary and secondary schools
Other than regular visitors 30 school groups from primary and secondary schools visited as extracurricular activity. It taught them about Croatia’s turbulent past and present helping them to understand the regular school curriculum in a very interesting and interactive manner.
Each prearranged school visit is treated to a guided tour to help them better understand.
Visitors interesting behaviour
Some visitors attempted to unofficially liberate some of the exhibits; this just goes to show how interesting and attractive the exhibition is. On the second day the EU flag, metal coffee container, old travel bags, vinyls and umbrellas from the rain room in the middle of the tunnel were all borrowed for good, the art installation made of catapults by the well known artist Alem Korkut was particularly interesting for those visitors.
Multimedia cultural project
The aim of the organisers, Croatia Insurance and Zagreb Tourist Board, was to commemorate 133 years of Croatia Insurance. They decided to design a multimedia cultural project which would condense 133 years of dramatic economic, political, cultural and scientific history and the everyday life of Croats in multidisciplinary way showing a parallel history of Croatia, Zagreb and the leading insurance company.
Thus we have an exhibition extending the whole length of tunnel Grič, connecting Mesnička and Radićeva street.
The exhibition has 13 sections covering a decade each representing different events, people and objects from each period.
In three side tunnels visitors can enjoy interactive surprises. The first side tunnel is dedicated to Nikola Tesla with two interesting interactive exhibits inspired by his inventions. The second side tunnel shows gloomy atmosphere of the WW II, and there visitors can watch the first Croatian film with sound “Lisinski”. Third side tunnel is dedicated to the swinging sixties with legendary dance halls and tunes. Towards the exit, the visitors enter the future where they can write their own messages using computers and light effects.
The different multimedia, digital and interactive content – screens, projections and music from each decade chosen by special team from Croatia records- is what makes this exhibition particularly attractive.
For those interested in the exhibition which offers unique visual, tactile and educational experience in the attractive tunnel in the heart of the city can come along free of charge until the 1st of November.
Alongside the organisers Croatia Insurance and Zagreb Tourist Board are many prominent signatories, namely, Prof Božo Skoko, the author of the exhibition concept and one of the leading experts in branding; Davor Bruketa and Damjan Geber, the exhibition designers; Andreja Smetko and Filip Turković the curators, Milenium promocija, Bruketa&Zinic&Grey and Brigada as producers.
