The Interpretation Centre of the Cathedral of St James

On the eve of the three days of St. James, on Friday, July 21, in the gallery “St. Nikola Tavelić” the collage-watercolor exhibition “The Holy City” by Branko Lovrić-Caparin was opened.

Cathedral pastor Don Krešimir Mateša greeted everyone present, and in his speech he emphasized that this thematic exhibition was prepared on the occasion of the 725th anniversary of the Šibenik diocese with the aim of highlighting the details of numerous churches, but also events that show how alive the Church of the Cathedral Parish of St. James lives. He pointed out that the name of the exhibition is connected with the space of the Interpretation Centre where the exhibition is set up.

Gallerist Pavao Roca briefly presented the author’s oeuvre spanning the last half century in many art techniques, especially watercolor. In his works, he also reveals many hidden buildings and parts of Šibenik through his works. He expressed his gratitude to the author for presenting universal beauty imbued with optimism and hope with his works.

The author himself, Branko Lovrić-Caparin, spoke about the collage-watercolor technique he uses. He explained how he wanted to move away from the classic watercolor and thus started with a collage-watercolor, which by recomposing creates new possibilities for works of art, and briefly presented each exhibited work: ”Skradinski kulturocid painting. I used collage for the first time in 1994 in the picture in this picture. There I was supposed to depict the suffering of the Skradin parish church Nativity of Our Lad (the former cathedral church) and the parish house. The roof of the church flew into the air, everything in the church was destroyed and scattered. In the parish house, a shell pierced the roof and crashed into a bookcase, and another shell penetrated the basement and destroyed the ethnographic collection. To depict that explosion, collage served me well by showing church and cultural values ​​flying through the air. This painting is in the parish house in Skradin. I used the same technique when something could not be better expressed that was not only a realistic description but also a message.
The paintings I Baptize You and Day of Wrath were created at the instigation of the bishop of Sibenik in peace, Ante Ivas. At his instigation, an art colony was organized on the theme of the Šibenik Cathedral. The colony was held every year from 2006 to 2010. Twenty artists, painters and sculptors participated. The colony worked for eight days. At the end, an exhibition of the created works would be organized in the gallery of St. Krševan. The condition was that each participant donates one of his works created on that occasion. I also participated in that colony. These two works were created then and were donated to the Šibenik diocese. I took as a topic the main characteristics of a Šibenik church. For the cathedral, it is its baptistery. Small space and great value, like a pearl in a shell. There are also heads from the apse of the cathedral. A memory of all those from Šibenik who were baptized in that area. The title of the picture is I baptize you.
Church of St. John I remembered from the masses for the deceased, the so-called Veršarije. They were played and sung, folk singing. Nikola Lovrić-Caparin played the organ, and Sokol Bumber sang. The picture is entitled Day of Wrath. The technical pictures were made in watercolor and collage precisely so that I would have more opportunities to present the idea of ​​the picture. I am exhibiting them on this occasion to emphasize the continuity of the collage work. These two works are located in the premises of the Catholic elementary school in Šibenik.
The painting Sveti grad contains a silhouette of the city of Šibenik, on which twenty-five sacred buildings are shown. However, this is not a picture of Šibenik’s churches, their exterior or interior, nor is this a picture of Šibenik and its panorama. It serves only to recognize the city I’m talking about. This is a picture of the Šibenik regiment and its faith, its belonging to the Church and God. Here you can see the stubborn nature of the people of Šibenik, which also captures the spirit of faith. However, the title of the picture does not justify either the number, the plurality, the narrowness, the beauty, or the modesty of the objects themselves. The living hard faith of the people of Šibenik, gentlemen and common people, gave the title to this picture. That is our faith. That is the faith of the Church. We boast of it, we confess it in Christ our Lord. This is the story of this painting, a story from long ago, the story of my youth and old age, and I hope it will also be the story of our Croatian future.”

The exhibition was opened by the Bishop of Sibenik, Msgr. Tomislav Rogić, thanking the author for his contribution to the great anniversary of the Diocese of Šibenik.

The exhibition remains open until July 29, and admission is free.