nineteen seventy-one

An exhibition of the Croatian History Museum in Klovićevi dvori Gallery
concept: Ana Filep
authors of the exhibition: Mislav Barić, Petra Braun, Ana Filep, Andreja Smetko
art display and visual identity: Ana Filep, Maja Karić
exhibition open: 1/11/2022 – 3/13/202
exhibition space: ground floor
the exhibition is open to the public from January 12th!

1971 is one of the crucial years that symbolically sums up the uniquely dynamic period of Croatian contemporary history, widely known today as the Croatian Spring. The Croatian Spring was a reformist movement within which, for the first time, Croats expressed openly, freely and in great numbers their dissatisfaction about Croatia’s position in the multinational Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Croats sought more independence, national equality in language, economy, and culture.

The three main bearers of the Croatian reformist movement were the reformist branch of the League of Communist of Croatia, Matica hrvatska (Matrix Croatica) and the student movement. These factions were not unified within a joint program, and even within their respective organizations, there were differences and disagreements about the approach and the methods of the movement. Nonetheless, all were united by a general Croatian national interest. A visible feature of the movement was the emphasis on Croatian identity and culture in almost all segments of society, which enjoyed great public support.

The movement reached its peak, as well as its dramatic end, in 1971, prompting a long period of “Croatian silence”. The repressive apparatus of the one-party dictatorship, led by Josip Broz Tito, dealt harshly with its leaders.

Twenty years later, proljećari (the Springers), bearers of the Croatian reformist movement, took part in the realization of complete Croatian independence; their efforts from the early 1970s were also woven into this undertaking.

The exhibition contains six chronological and thematic units. Following an introductory preview of events leading up to 1971 entitled „Neka bude život…” (Let there be life), the four main exhibition units provide a chronological sequence of events in 1971 through the activities of the three groups around which the movement was formed – the reformists, the matičari and the students. The exhibition units bear the symbolic names of seasons, which, more symbolically than strictly according to the calendar, correspond to the developmental stages of the reformist movement. The broader context of the times is expressed through an overview of general social developments in the country and the world. The final section, entitled “Holding Onto Hope”, points to the consequences of the movement’s collapse and contains the memories of witnesses and their families of “nineteen seventy-one”, 50 years later.

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As a key national heritage institution, the Croatian History Museum includes the exhibition on the year 1971 in its continuous professional activities, which deal with important topics in Croatian history. We have done this without anticipating the circumstances in which the Museum found itself after the earthquake, which made it impossible for us to operate in our own space until further notice.

We express our gratitude to the Klovićevi dvori Gallery for providing the space and their collegial assistance, as well as to all those who contributed to the realization of the exhibition.