A museum in terms of collective memory helps build the future, and in the atmosphere of publicly presenting the collection “Vukovar Museum in exile”, we convey precisely this idea. This project, resulting from an expression of both resistance and support by Croatian artists, public and cultural institutions, cities and world famous artistic names during the siege of Vukovar, will remain a permanent memory of a time of attempts to suffocate and destroy one heritage and one identity.
The greatest message will nevertheless remain in the works of artists, as they found a new home - a place of encounter between a profound historical context and contemporary urban reality. In the idea of the project author, artists, collectors, individuals, institutions and printing houses are the founders and creators of this special art collection, unique to our entire national cultural heritage – it is their and our joint collection. And its home is Vukovar and the Vukovar City Museum.
The opening of the final phase of the permanent exhibition of the Vukovar City Museum with the a Collection of donations by Croatian and European artists “Vukovar Museum in exile” represents a major cultural event for the city of Vukovar and for Croatia. It is an exceptional cultural, artistic and museum project that grew from the initiative of Mr. sc. Božo Biškupić, in order to symbolically promote, in a context of complete destruction, genocide and urbicide, the necessity and need for restoration of the City of Vukovar and draw attention to the idea of the museum and its humanitarian and social perspective.
The idea of establishing a collection, created in 1992 under the title “Vukovar Museum in exile,” when during the occupation the Vukovar City Museum was operating in the Mimara Museum in Zagreb, also represents the beginning of cultural renewal of the City of Vukovar.
The importance of presenting the last part of the Vukovar City Museum permanent exhibition under the title “Vukovar Museum in Exile” is even greater if we know that after many years of dedicated work by numerous museum workers, the Ministry of Culture, numerous Croatian institutions and meritorious individuals, the interdisciplinary project of the Government of the Republic of Croatia “Research, restoration and revitalization of the Ilok-Vukovar-Vučedol cultural heritage“ is now completed.
It is therefore necessary to remind of former reconstruction works on the most important segments of national cultural heritage, the realisation of which has been continually enabled since 2005 by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Council of Europe Development Bank: from the restored historical core with monument of the City of Ilok and the setting up of a permanent exhibition of the Ilok City Museum, through the reconstruction of the Eltz Castle complex and the Vukovar City Museum with its permanent exhibition in 2014, the opening of the Bauer 2017 Collection permanent exhibition and the baroque core of the City of Vukovar, to the construction of the Vučedol Culture Museum.
The project “Research, restoration and revitalization of the Ilok-Vukovar-Vučedol cultural heritage”, as part of a multidisciplinary programme of sustainable development in Vukovar-Srijem County, jointly aimed at fostering protection and furthering of cultural landscape as a component of economic development, is one of the most complex programmes of research and restoration, as well as valorisation and revitalization of the national heritage of monuments.
The presentation of the final stage of the permanent exhibition with the Collection “Vukovar Museum in exile” is an event the significance of which goes far beyond the borders of Vukovar, opening in the context of the entire Republic of Croatia, a new dimension of using, presenting and communicating heritage as an inexhaustible resource for the development of society.
With this project the Vukovar City Museum confirms its role as the main instrument of urban cultural action and planning. It is a place making us think about creation from the very beginnings of human civilization; a place reminding us of the horrors of demolition and destruction, but also of the power of rebirth, and this collection, symbolically is the last step on that path.
On behalf of the Ministry of Culture, I would like to thank all the persons without whose efforts and years of work this idea, this project and this space would never have come to life. First and foremost, I thank and congratulate initiator of the idea, collector and long-time Minister of culture, Mr. sc. Božo Biškupić, art historian and museologist, long-time leader of the project of restitution of cultural property of the City Museum of Vukovar and Assistant Minister Mr. sc. Branka Šulc, Director of the Vukovar City Museum and chief executer of this valuable project, Mrs. Ružica Marić, author of the art exhibition, Mrs. Nikolina Jelavić-Mitrović, as well as all other Museum staff and numerous Croatian museum workers, restaurateurs and conservators, external associates and all those who have been involved in any way in the realization of the permanent exhibition.
In the end, I sincerely thank on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and my own, the artists who donated their works. I thank you for a human, national sensitivity and artistic contribution to the creation of this unique collection.
This project confirms once again that the power of humanity and of every form of noble action, as well as the power of art win, leaving a permanent omen. The strength of the City of Vukovar and its Museum is also confirmed in giving a home to the works bestowed upon it as a pledge and energy for the future, for the necessity of restoration and protection of national identity always accompanied by cultural heritage.
The Ministry of Culture is proud of its continuous multi-year participation in this important project. I sincerely congratulate the Vukovar City Museum on opening of the permanent exhibition “Vukovar Museum in exile”, which symbolically concludes the return to Vukovar and the reconstruction of life in this city at all levels.
Minister of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, PhD