The Interpretation Centre of the Cathedral of St James

Last night, the traditional exhibition “Croatian Blessed Saints in Our People” was officially opened in the “St. Nikola Tavelić” gallery, organized by the National Shrine of St. Joseph from Karlovac and the Association for the Promotion of Famous Križevci “Dr. Stjepan Kranjčić”.

The author of this year’s portrait cycle is the Zagreb academic painter Tihomir Lončar.
He finished elementary school in Zagreb and enrolled in the painting department at the School of Applied Arts. In 1974, he graduated from the School of Applied Arts and enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, the painting department, from which he graduated in 1980 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in the class of Josip V. Jordan. The following year, he collaborated with Edo Murtić, who delighted him with his creative methods and introduced him to the technique of painting on enamel.
He organized his first solo exhibition in 1985 at the Buljat Gallery in Zagreb. This was followed by exhibitions throughout Croatia, and one of the most memorable was the large exhibition of the Three Seasons cycle, which he mounted in 1999 at the Art Pavilion in Zagreb.
Tihomir Lončar currently lives and works in Zagreb.

In addition to the author, the opening program was attended by Valentino Dražić Celić, an academic painter, on behalf of the host, Mons. Antun Sente Jr., on behalf of the exhibition organizers, and art historian Stanko Špoljarić. The opening of the Exhibition was enriched by the beautiful vocal interpretation of the song “Oči u oči” (Eyes to Eyes) by soprano Monika Pranjić, and it was opened by mr. sc. Krešimir Mateša, pastor of the cathedral parish of St. James in Šibenik.

Art historian Stanko Špoljarić, among other things, said that Lončar is a great Croatian painter with an exceptional opus of continuity, but also of quality. An opus that is linked to the landscape, driven by concreteness but also by imagination, a kind of interpretation of a shift from the literalness of reality. Špoljarić said that he believes that he is one of the greatest contemporary painters with a special emphasis on the sacred – a theme that has its history in the artistic expressiveness of the greats and styles that are behind us, and somewhere that trace of tradition is felt in the most positive sense in these portraits, which in their givenness start from some relatively strict fact, but also carry an expressive note of artistic freedom, a form of necessary stylization, or a style that is authentic.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the opening of this exhibition, academic painter Tihomir Lončar especially thanked the organizer of this traveling exhibition, Monsignor Sente, who has enabled him to have a continuous presence in public space in these mature years. He emphasized that with this exhibition he wanted to express his gratitude and loyalty to the Almighty for the talent he had been given, and that he hopes that he has not abused it in the sense of exalting himself with some great painterly ideas.

Opening the exhibition, the cathedral parish priest Mateša said on that occasion that this exhibition is an enrichment of what we need today, which are models of faith and life that guide us and become a signpost, and confirm that it is possible to follow Christ on earth and become a saint. He said that Saint John Paul II called us not to forget our saints and martyrs, to be an inspiration for our lives, to explore their lives. “The Church has recognized them as saints and gives them to us to gaze upon. Therefore, it is good and useful to organize exhibitions like this. These portraits were given to us so that we can see in their gaze the reflection of God’s gaze, so that like them we too may walk towards God. The continuity of this exhibition, that is, the depiction of the spiritual greats of our people through the brush of different artists, will further contribute to the promotion of our saints and blesseds on the Church and civil scene,” said parish priest Mateša.

The exhibition will remain open until September 20. Admission is free.