This is the starting point of my artistic work where I try to intervene as the social corrective in the public spaces and, to the benefit of surrounding, point to the main problems in culture and society and question society’s current state. In this particular case, I will concentrate on the problematic heritage of nationalism and its reflection in conservatism that unfortunately prevails in nowadays Croatian society which often manifests through intolerance, hostility and prejudices towards the Other. Notwithstanding the existence of extreme beliefs in our society, I am inclined to support the idea that the change can occur, should there exist the will for the true activism, persistency and patience.
In general, the project itself will consist in two parts: documenting and performing minimalistic artistic interventions on devastated monuments. The purpose of this artistic practice is to raise national awareness for the necessity of the systematic care for this heritage and to warn the authorities about the value of affirmation and preservation of humanistic ideas of antifascism. Moreover, the project aims to engage local and national governmental and cultural institutions in a debate on preserving the heritage of anti-fascist resistance, remembrance of victims of WW2 and to initiate the planning of preservation and restoration of these monuments.
About the artist
Grubic’s work is by its nature politically and socially engaged. He calls himself an artist and activist and produces multi-disciplinary work engaging with the society within which he lives – Croatia or post-war Yugoslavia – and its communist, now neo-liberal government. In his own words he describes an artist’s role as ‘[making] a spark in the viewer’s mind, to make them think about what the media and politicians serve us up’.
