President of the Republic Attends Opening of the 35th Youth Salon – Millennial Exhibition
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended the opening of the 35th Youth Salon – Millennial Exhibition that is being held in the Home of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists.
Opening the Youth Salon, President Milanović said that he hurried to the event from a commitment he had today in the town of Ilok, because he feels that “in a climate of violence that we live in, in which people easily reach for weapons, art is a very important part of life that should be taught and passed on to children, especially boys.”
“The book deals with the upbringing of girls in the Czech Republic, and we have to deal with the upbringing of boys in Croatia, because when they grow up it will be too late. That’s why art, that ‘Athenian weight’ of upbringing, is just as important as Sparta,” said the President, explaining that sports are important, but so is art. “In the end, when he loses his temper, the artist will cut off his own ear – not somebody else’s,” he said.
President Milanović wished the artists and organizers a successful Youth Salon, expressing confidence that it would be much more fruitful than the square where it is being held, “which, after its facelift, still remains a bit sterile.”
With the aim of encouraging dialogue, this biennial exhibition – the largest exhibition featuring visual artists under the age of 35 – presents the art scene of today, giving up-and-coming artists the opportunity to exhibit in a suitable place.
This year, hundreds of young artists are showcasing their artwork. Their paintings, sculptures, multimedia art, performances, photographs, graphics, films and videos are on display, supplemented by a rich program that is based on the event’s central theme.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta