Split Enraptured by Pecha Kucha
Split’s trendy street Morpurgova Poljana was teeming with people on October 2nd when the first Split Pecha Kucha Night was held. Ten creative artists (some from Split and others from Zagreb) presented their work in short presentations.
Following the events in Zagreb and Rijeka, where these nights have been successfully held for the past two years, the October 2nd event showed that Split needs to have its Night as well. This was clear from the look at the crowded Morpurgova Poljana in front of the Golly & Bossy Design Hostel, whose management helped the event’s kick-off along with the Zagreb Pecha Kucha team: Rasadnik Bruketa&Žinić, 3LHD, Komakino and Lana Cavar.
The first presenter was the famous Split actor-turned-entrepreneur Elvis Bošnjak who spoke about the new Playdrama independent theater and about the current state of culture in Split. Goran Rako, the renowned Dalmatia-born architect who had previously presented at the Zagreb PKN, spoke about several of his projects, such as the water tower and Vukovar Memorial Museum as well as the Šegrt Hlapić Preschool in Zagreb, proving that one can change the world through good architecture.
Split performer Marko Marković spoke of the Dopust Performance Festival (Leave-of-Absence Performance Festival) which he has been organizing for the past three years in Split. Ana Marin was the first recipient of the audience’s spontaneous applause due to her charming appearance. She is the name behind REC which manufactures toys and clothes with a do-it-yourself feel. In addition to presenting her work, Ana spoke about inspiration and about the creative process from beginning to end.
In his excellent and funny presentation, Split visual artist Vedran Perkov presented some of his work, such as the cage around the bench at the waterfront, a spaceship model and a spacesuit, along with his work done as part of the Radoslav Putar Award, entitled “It’s Just Us Two Guys at the Show, Radoslav”. Architect Dinko Peračić from Platform 9.81 spoke about the Split Youth Center project – the process and the vision.
Fashion designer Jasmina Bolanča, born in Šibenik and working in Zagreb, told a story about her motivation and inspiration, and showed some of her work, such as a series of T-shirts made for various bands. The event highlights were presentations by the designers Boris Ljubičić and Igor Jurić as well the crew behind the Lavanderman film. Ljubičić spoke of Croatia’s visual identity and work in Split and Dalmatia, such as the logos for the Mediterranean Games, Hajduk FC and the City of Split. Igor Jurić took his Zagreb PKN show on the road and spoke of the XD Concept electric car project and about the problems in Croatian product design – along with some inspiring ideas as to how to solve them. Last but not least, the Lavanderman crew, Zvonimir Rumboldt, Toni Faver and Damir Markovina, told the story of this unusual hero in verse.
Croatia’s leading hip-hop band TBF inevitably put their stamp on the whole evening first by hosting the event and then by playing music long into the night.
