The exhibition has been set up on the upper floor of the southern wing of the 18th century Baroque palace, the Croatian History Museum’s sole exhibition space.
The purpose and objective of the exhibition is to inform the public of the reasons why it is so vital to move the Croatian History Museum and to establish the museum’s first permanent display. We want to recall the space constraints with which the Museum has been dealing for decades, and the urgency of finding a solution to permanently accommodate it.
A total of 216 items are on display; they were chosen not only because they met the criteria of significance, but also because they reflect social development, because they are items of general or personal use, because they are attractive (interesting, exciting and engaging), because they have aesthetic value or simply because they are common (ordinary, everyday items). All of the Croatian History Museum’s curators participated in the selection and consideration of the materials.
As opposed to the situation in the storage depots, at the exhibition the materials are accessible and may be examined within the scope of seven thematic units: politics, economy, education, science, culture, everyday life and media.
We are presenting museum materials in a manner similar to the way they are kept in storage depots. It may seem inappropriate to exhibit a portrait of Peter Zrinski together with a badge for Jews, the jewellery of magnates together with a sketch of the Goli otok prison camp, or a heraldry register of the nobility together with a police file. However, this is our way of underscoring the confined space in which the Museum has been compelled to operate for decades now, and the urgency of finding a long-term solution. In contrast to the situation in the depots, at the exhibition the materials will be accessible and available for perusal. Each item on display has its number and title. Visitors who want to know more about a specific exhibit may use the number to search for the exhibit card in the card file. The cards may be freely used but must be returned to their original place.
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The Croatian History Museum cares for the national heritage, and museum materials are a component of both national and general history. The education and enlightenment of children and adults alike are done through exhibitions, workshops… Despite this, the museum collections and the presentation of Croatian history are still in the waiting room, so to speak.
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12 December 2017 - 30 September 2018
AUTHOR OF THE EXHIBITION CONCEPT AND SCENARIO: Ela Jurdana
CO-AUTHOR OF THE EXHIBITION: Ana Filep
CURATORS OF THE EXHIBITION: Petra Braun, Ana Filep
EDITORIAL BOARD: Matea Brstilo Rešetar, Ana Filep, Ela Jurdana, Ankica Pandžić, Snježana Pavičić
EXHIBITION DESIGN: Nikolina Jelavić Mitrović
VISUAL IDENTITY OF THE EXHIBITION: Milan Trenc
PHOTOGRAPHS: Ivana Asić
MULTIMEDIA: Zdenka Šinkić
TECHNICAL SET-UP: Tomislav Degmečić, Mirana Jušić, Ivo Margaretić, Ozren Solić, Ivica Tarle
MUSEUM EDUCATOR: Nikolina Mađar
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