CREATIVE WORKSHOPS ACCOMPANYING THE EXHIBITION “IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE KINGDOM”

Dear creatives,
On Saturday, 25th October, from 11:00 to 12:30, we will be starting our new creative workshops.

Registration for the workshops is mandatory via email: artionica@gkd.hr

Please include the child’s full name and age in your registration.
We can tailor all workshops to suit preschool children as well as primary and secondary school students on weekdays, at a mutually agreed time.

We look forward to welcoming you to Artionica and the exhibition space of the Klovićevi Dvori Gallery.

1. CHARCOAL DRAWING WORKSHOP
25 October 2025, 11:00 – 12:30

A drawing is the first visible form of an artist’s vision, regardless of the final medium in which that vision is realised. Even the Torso of the Roman Emperor was first sketched or studied by an unknown artist. As we can see in the photograph, in addition to the armour, the statue’s attire includes a short tunic and a leather underlayer/armour with thigh and shoulder straps ending in tassels, as well as a cloak.

TASK:
At the exhibition, we will closely examine the details of the relief representations and transfer them onto paper with a pencil for practice. In the workshop, we will create a drawing using charcoal, but with our own motifs — those we’ve enjoyed drawing since childhood. Imagine that the armour is your school apron, protecting your clothes from dirt. How would you decorate it? What motifs would you choose to make it appealing to everyone?

2. RELIEF MAKING WORKSHOP
8th November 2025, 11:00 – 12:30

The altar screen adorned the pre-Romanesque church of St. Mary in Gornji Koljani near Vrlika, which is now submerged by the Peruća reservoir. Both plutei feature prominent garlands; the left one is decorated with a double series of “pretzels,” while the right one displays a triple braid.

The decorative field of the left pluteus is occupied by a network of six triple-medallions arranged in three horizontal rows. Within these medallions, alternating motifs of seven-lobed rosettes, doves, and Solomon’s knots flow. A characteristic horror vacui (fear of empty space) is achieved through the carving of lilies in the spaces between the medallions.

On the right pluteus, the same arrangement of medallions is repeated, but now the decoration takes on a geometric design, with a dense interweaving of triple-diagonal strips.

TASK:
Drawing from the observation of the pluteus at the exhibition, we will create three motifs in clay (a bird, a flower, and Solomon’s knot). Once they are dry, we will place them on a wooden base, cover them with aluminium foil, and then patinate them with ink.

3. SCULPTURE WORKSHOP
22nd November 2025, 11:00 – 12:30

Before their conversion to Christianity, the ancient Croats believed in multiple pagan gods such as Perun, Veles, Svarog, Jarilo, and others. The preserved hexagonal stone baptismal font of Prince Višeslav from the late 9th century bears witness to this time of Christianisation.

This baptismal font, or holy well, is adorned with a relief of a cross filled with a triple-braided ornament, along with an inscription in Latin bearing the name of Prince Višeslav (VVISSAS CLAVO DVCI). It is one of the most important monuments of early medieval Croatian culture.

TASK:
Modeling the baptismal font in clay.

4. PAINTING WORKSHOP
29th November 2025, 11:00 – 12:30

This year, on 29th November, the first Advent candle will be lit in our Zagreb, at Manduševac on Ban Jelačić Square, colloquially known as Jelačić Square. On the first Sunday of Advent, many people will light the first candle on their Advent wreaths in their homes, a symbol of humanity’s struggle against the darkness of life. Likewise, thousands of lights will sparkle in the treetops of the plane trees in Zrinjevac Square, also known as Trg Nikole Šubića Zrinskog.

The Zrinski family, a symbol of Croatian heritage, has shaped the course of history for centuries and played a key role in the national resistance against the Ottomans and Austrians. After 1670, following the failure of the conspiracy with the Frankopans and Hungarian nobility, the Zrinskis lost all their estates. That same year, the Viennese court published a booklet in several languages detailing the course of the trial, the verdict, and its execution on the three counts of treason — Zrinski, Nádasdy, and Frankopan.

TASK:
Inspired by the coat of arms of the Šubić Zrinski family, we will design our own coat of arms that best represents us, using acrylic paint on cardboard.

5. SCULPTURE WORKSHOP
6th December 2025, 11:00 – 12:30

As the workshop takes place on St. Nicholas’ Day, we will dedicate the day to this saint. Many churches have been built in his honour, and in Croatia, the historically significant one is located at the Prahulje site near Nin.

Numerous folk customs of gift-giving to children are associated with St. Nicholas, following the example of St. Nicholas the Bishop, who, according to legend, would secretly deliver gifts through the window to poor people at night. In Croatia, there is a long tradition of venerating St. Nicholas, particularly in coastal regions, where the miracles of this saint are witnessed by numerous votive churches and chapels built by shipwrecked sailors on perilous reefs.

One of the more beautiful customs on 6th December is the Komiža Sailing Regatta of St. Nicholas, where participants and locals burn old boats in front of the church of the saint, in hopes of saving all ships and sailors across the world.

At the exhibition, we will see two figureheads from the fight against the Ottomans. One features the commander of the Trogir galley wearing war spoils — a figurehead in the shape of a rooster from a captured Turkish ship. The other shows a victorious Hvar galley sailing under the protection of a “zvir”, Croatian (dialect) for beast. This “zvir” is a ship’s figurehead from the bow of the Hvar galley Sv. Jeronim, which participated in the Battle of Lepanto.

TASK:
We will create these ship figureheads using the papier-mâché technique and paint them in our favourite colour, or design our own “zvir” based on our current inspiration.

6. GRAPHIC WORKSHOP
13th December 2025, 11:00 – 12:30

TASK:
Using the provided Glagolitic table, we will write our names on linoleum and become familiar with the linocut technique, a form of relief printing. Afterward, we will print the graphic in colour using the printing press.

7. SCULPTURE WORKSHOP
20th December 2025, 11:00 – 12:30

The celebration of Christmas is approaching, and we will soon light the last of the four candles on the Advent wreath. This candle represents love, a virtue we always need. Messengers of love are figures of naked, winged little angels, known as putti (Latin: puttus = boy). These winged children, often encountered in Renaissance and Baroque art—either as messengers of earthly love or as angelic spirits—originate from Greek and Roman times. They became a key motif in the Renaissance revival of antiquity.

At the exhibition, we have a Putto with a shield, created by Ivan Duknović, positioned above the lintel of the eastern portal of the Cippico family palace. With his left hand, he holds a shield bearing the Cippico family crest, and in his right hand, he holds a torch. This sculpture is considered one of the finest works of Ivan Duknović. It belongs to the category of plastic art with an allegorical theme. The torch symbolizes divine light, the enlightenment of the spirit, or divine presence. Therefore, the statue of the winged boy holding the torch is not only a decorative element highlighting the family crest but also an allegorical representation of divine knowledge.

TASK:
At the end of this year, we will create a little putto to help us grow in love in the upcoming year, as they say that love knows no boundaries. It is love that can ignite our imagination, free our creativity, and lead us into a more beautiful and joyful New Year.