Prof. Dragan Ljutić Ph.D., Rector of the University of Split, inaugurated the humanitarian exhibition entitled "University of Split and Split’s artists together for Banovina" on Tuesday, February 16, at the University Gallery "Vasko Lipovac". The opening was also attended by authors of exhibited works who donated them, expressing solidarity with students from the Sisak-Moslavina County which was affected by the earthquake. All exhibited works will be available for purchase at an online auction, on the University of Split’s website, and bidding for artworks will be possible for 24 hours, from February 25 to 26, also the last day of the exhibition at the University Gallery.
The exhibition consists of twenty-two (22) artworks by prominent names in the Split academic art scene, donated by the following:
Josip Botteri Dini, Ana Marija Botteri, Zeljko Bubalo, Ljubica Buble Dragojević, Mladen ČuliĆ, Edvin Dragičević, Nikola Džaja, Kažimir Hraste, Stjepan Ivanišević, Ivan Listeš, Petar Jakelić, Robert Jozić, Kuzma Kovačić, Helena Mardešic Sikora, Zvonimir Mihanović, Matko Mijić, Dražen Pejković, Hrvoje Marko Peruzović, Velebit Restović, Dijana Iva Sesartić, Vjekoslav Stipica and Vice Tomasović.
- The University of Split and Split’s artists will help our students coming from earthquake-affected areas in Sisak-Moslavina County. With this action, we have shown that art truly lives in our environment. ‘I sincerely thank all artists for their donations, I hope that we will raise considerable funds, showing that art gives meaning to our lives’ - said Rector Ljutić when he was opening the exhibition, emphasizing that students in the affected area received packets in cooperation with HNK Hajduk, and the funds to help were paid by the University, as well as students for their colleagues.
Josip Botteri Dini, one of the donating artists, said that by doing so, each of them expressed their desire to help those hurt by the earthquake. - With my artwork, done on the motif of "Merciful Samaritan", I looked towards the Gospel, towards Jesus, who showed in this parable that we must be touched by others’ troubles and then we can do anything to help - concluded Botteri Dini.
At the online auction, the starting price for all artworks will be HRK 5,000.00, and it will be possible to buy the desired one in an online bidding in order to help as much as possible to those in need. In the coming days, we will inform the public on the exact time, details of how to bid, through both university communication channels and the media.