My first solo jewelry exhibition in Zagreb

Cloverfield Gallery hosted my handicrafts for a while, for which I am immensely grateful to the owner, Mr. Damir Kanaet , who recognized my work as jewelry made to measure art . I am very proud of myself, but also of the team of collaborators who, each in their own segment of work, helped everything turn out as I imagined, and even better. I will immediately invite you to see my first solo exhibition in Zagreb in a real artistic setting . For those who don't know it yet, Cloverfield Gallery is located at Pod zidom 12 .

This exhibition has an artistic and cultural character and is not for sale, but if you would like to purchase a piece of jewelry after viewing the exhibition, please stop by Praška 6. to my exhibition and sales Gallery Dalia , only a few hundred meters away from the exhibition.

Cloverfield Gallery - opening of the exhibition "Jewelry Tailored to Art"

The impressions are still fresh in my mind. I only had the grand opening of the exhibition a few days ago. It was on October 26th , Thursday evening. A beautiful day and many guests. I felt nervous, but in a positive way. Maybe because of the sense of responsibility and the realization that this was the first time I was exhibiting my jewelry in Zagreb , and it wasn't my own gallery.

Many people have asked me, from family members to friends and colleagues, what my first impressions were. It still seems incredible to me then and now that simply accepting some of my conditions opens up a path that I thought was a distant future until recently. Little things really must remain little things. You don't need to change yourself because it's not within certain expectations and norms.

As I mentioned, I was positively confused and nervous for the occasion. I was myself. As I reviewed the video, my first reaction was, “Wow, I'm not serious at all for my age!” Then I paused, wondering what that meant.
I am surrounded by dear people whom I love, who know me just the way I am. There were also some new people, from other circles that I am now slowly entering. Isn't it best to be honest from the beginning? It is up to them to accept or not to accept, as is the case with everything in life.
I am who I am. I think my first solo exhibition in Zagreb showed that.

What did I exhibit at the Cloverfield Gallery?

In the preface to the catalogue , curator Anita Ruso Brečić wrote that everything is bursting with life, referring to my playful artistic style . I have transformed my restless and fidgety temperament into jewelry that exudes colors and motifs, which are surprising to many at first, but which capture attention. If you want to see out of the box jewelry , and even more so if you are a fan of such jewelry, I will be glad to see my “Extension Cable” made of brass and coral or jewelry inspired by the melody/music “Nostalgia”, “Rhythm” and “Music” .

I love watching people's reactions when they notice something unexpected, unusual in their jewelry. And I have plenty of that. So the visitors to the exhibition were surprised by the nails as a pendant on a leather necklace, or as I like to say in Dalmatian, “Brokve”.

I am often inspired by water , which is why I have prepared jewelry in which semi-precious stones faithfully imitate water. “Walking” on the bridge above the river is truly a special ring that catches everyone’s eye. The “Pipa” ring leaves no one indifferent, including my friend Danijela Martinović , in whose private collection it is today. I have conjured up “Zagreb” through one of the most beautiful symbols of the city - the Manduševac well.

Cloverfield Gallery has allowed its minimalist artistic interior and vibrant jewelry to create a true symbiosis, an extraordinary relationship. This is one of the reasons why I decided to exhibit a necklace that is very dear to me, with the meaningful title “Extraordinary Relationship” .

I have also exhibited here some works that I have made for eminent entertainment personalities, with whom I have also built and have an exceptional friendly relationship . I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank them for lending me/borrowing their jewelry for this exhibition so that the public can enjoy it a little.

What did I exhibit at the Cloverfield Gallery?

I invite you to take a look at “My World” . I show you how “My” I am, how much I love what I do. I also exhibited a set called “You” . This is an invitation to all of you who read this blog to visit the exhibition and interpret the jewelry in your own way. Dedicate yourself, just as I dedicated a copper and turquoise necklace to “Myself”.

I know that some were surprised, and perhaps a little scared, by my "Dentist" necklace made of sunstone and a silver tooth and dental instruments, but I also know that it made my dear dentist friend who was at the opening very happy.

Many people ask me what I am saying with my jewelry. Indeed, each piece has its own story , which the buyer receives with a certificate . But I like it when a person interprets jewelry in their own unique way. However, there is a hidden message in one piece of jewelry in physical form. I am talking about the “Message in a Bottle” ring, which is also exhibited at the Cloverfield Gallery.

Whether my brass "Tie" made of puzzle pieces will be your tie or necklace - I leave that to your choice and inspiration.

Speaking of inspiration, I am sometimes inspired by not-so-pleasant anecdotes from life. I have just “described” one of these in my jewelry. Living with some “pets” is not our choice. Have you ever had an uninvited gray four-legged guest in your apartment/house? Did you run away without a care or tackle the long-tailed “nemani”? How did you catch it? My “Mouse Trap” with a delicious piece of cheese made of silver, brass, copper and hematite might be able to help you hunt down the unwanted guest.

Cloverfield Gallery reveals the mimesis of nature

I am fascinated by the symbols of nature . For me , “Joy” is a fragile snowdrop peeking out of the snow. In addition to the shy snow-white flower, the herald of spring, I exhibited two roses - a red one and a golden one, “Divota from the Roots” . I have frozen the fluttering flight of colorful butterflies in the “Ease” bracelet and the “Purple Flight” necklace. I am fascinated by the dandelion, especially when it changes into its ballroom, fluttering, transparent-gray dress. I hope that my “Dandelion” will inspire you as much. I bring you “A Strand of a Meadow” .

Autumn has touched us, it has walked onto the streets of the city and the countryside, which inspired me to bring “Autumn” to the exhibition. A spider made of silver and labradorite filigreely weaves its web on a silver leaf that I have interspersed with 24-carat gold leaves. I have brought in “A Little Color” of the autumn palette. You can also see a silver and agate necklace with a fossil under the symbolic name “Stanley Woman” , inspired by the blue fruit of autumn - the plum . Now the Cloverfield Gallery breathes in the rhythm of autumn. Even the drizzle drizzled lightly at times, creating an even more special atmosphere, bringing the “Dreamy Whisper” of autumn.

My “Lingam” has an Asian touch, and you can see how it looks at the exhibition. Using brass and leather, I created one of my latest sets called “Hairy Glamour” . I love Africa , I love “Wildlife” . In addition to lurex and brass, I used horn and seeds from that continent in my African jewelry. See how I interpreted Africa at the exhibition.

The call of Dalmatia in the heart of the metropolis

Let's stay in warm places for a while longer. I am a Dalmatian with an address in Križevci, which I love immensely and to which I dedicated the necklace "Eternity, Time, History" , but my Dalmatia has never left me.

I deeply value my roots. That's why you'll find many nautical symbols in my jewelry. When you visit the exhibition, take a look at the “Then and Now” necklace and everything will be clear to you. The Cloverfield Gallery has also become a small harbor for my earthly boats - “Little Boat” and “Pearl” , but also for the “Heavenly Boat” , which I made from shell, agate, pearls and silver.

Those who know me know the respect I have for the olive tree . That “Wonderful Tree” , that “Feeling” of gratitude that I feel when I see it and when I hold the fruit in my hands, is something indescribable. I had to expose this important part of myself and my production to the public. The olive tree is “Like a Mother” to many Dalmatians, and so it is to me. These symbols of Dalmatia ‒ “Sky, Stone and Olive” ‒ can be seen at this exhibition. Discover for yourself what the “Grandma’s Chest” made of silver and olive wood hides. Under Wall 12.

Cloverfield Gallery has also briefly taken on a Mediterranean flair. I already have an enviable collection of works inspired by the olive tree. I could do an exhibition just on that theme. Who knows, maybe soon, around Easter to be appropriate!

Life is made of small things, life is made of sweet things

I have already written that small things should remain small things because often small things bring us great joy in life . It was precisely such small sweet things that inspired me when I decided to create a set - the "Bombon" earring and the "Chocolate" bracelet . Some visitors said that their teeth started to tingle when they saw this adorable combination, which brought a smile to my face. Well, those are the small things, those little moments of happiness that we give to each other - to friends, acquaintances, family, random passers-by. Don't forget to do small things that mean a lot to people!

Many will say that I see everything through colored glasses. Maybe, but I also know how to show rebellion when I disagree with something. So I shaped my rebellion into a necklace and bracelet called “Copper Rebellion” . See what a significant set of jewelry this is at the exhibition. I won't reveal more.

Have you ever searched for someone or something? Maybe for your essence? I wove my “Searches” out of copper and agate. They were also exhibited by the Cloverfield Gallery.

Some new people, some of my people

In my search, I came across interesting people - some new people who became my collaborators. And I must say that my journey has been an "Indescribable" experience for me. Such an inspiring experience that I even made jewelry under that name. New people sometimes mean "New Beginnings ", and I am not afraid of these beginnings, in fact, I am very happy about them. I am going towards life with an open heart and mind.

Some new people entered my life, my project, my direction. An acquaintance, a new collaboration. A bunch of ideas. Brainstorming . A few more people. Fresh ideas. And as a result - an exhibition at the Cloverfield Gallery by Mr. Damir Kanaet - my first in Zagreb, but the first with jewelry at the Cloverfield Gallery . Not the last - as we promised ourselves at the opening.

Part of the story, my story, was transferred to the gallery wall by the wonderful Nikolina Žabčić . It was a fantastic idea that received excellent reactions from visitors to the exhibition, but also from those who were just curiously peeking through the gallery window. The reaction was received. An excellent move by the young illustrator.

There were people who could be put in the category of mine (now it is appropriate to mention the necklace from the exhibition called “Mine” ). Then there were those from the category of public life, then artists from the category of art and culture. I would not put anyone in categories because I do not like to put people in boxes.

There was a hug at the beginning and at the end

I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who was at the exhibition opening, who will visit it, who are here, regardless of whether they are not physically here.
The opening of the exhibition was one big hug together . Yes, the working title of the exhibition really could have been a hug - with a smile and a hug with dear people.

Let this blog of mine be one big "Free Ad" like my "brick" necklace made of silver and coral (which caught the eye of many), so that you can take a peek into my world of jewelry , not only at the Dalia Gallery in Praška 6 , where you will be warmly welcomed and served by my hardworking employees Jadranka and Ivana, but also at the Cloverfield Gallery Pod zidom 12. The exhibition is open until the end of the year, and the Cloverfield Gallery is open every day from 2 to 7 pm , except on Sundays and holidays.

To get to the new blog, take a walk through the old town and take a look at one of the galleries. Or maybe even better, visit both galleries. We are waiting for you with open arms and doors. Welcome!