In the course of the media conference which announced the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the death of the writer Janko Polić Kamov from Rijeka, who tragically died in Barcelona in 1910, mayor Vojko Obersnel said that Janko Polić Kamov is among the greatest literature names that Rijeka has had so far, therefore he deserves a manifestation dedicated exclusively to his work and legacy. His literary manuscript shows an impressive artistic level and an anticipatory, avant-garde component whereby he opened new literature horizons for Croatian literature on the whole, while the most recent research indicate to much wider, global trends. In view of the connection between Kamov and Barcelona, the mayor has started an initiative for placing in Barcelona a cast replica of Kamov's sculpture in Rijeka, by Zvonimir Kamenar. The proposal has already been forwarded to the Commission competent for placing sculptures in the public places of the city of Barcelona.
The campaign called "Stick close to Kamov!" supports the leading idea of the visual identity aimed at promoting and integrating all the manifestations referring to or dedicated to Kamov all year long. The campaign also endeavours to actualise the literary work of this writer from Rijeka and bring it closer to young readers. In the light of this, a new Internet site www.kamov.hr, will soon be available to serve as a global place offering information about Kamov and his literary work.
The Croatian National Theatre Ivan Zajc will initiate the festival called "Kamovfest" which will start at the beginning of April. The manifestation programme will include the première of the Croatian Drama ensemble „Damned Be Kam“, a ballet evening staged by Staša Zurovac, a chamber concert presenting Milutin Polić's opus and performance poetry „The Travellers and the Swearers “, and the roundtable „Kamov and His Times“, led by Prof. Mladen Urem, will open the festival.
Around mid May the Trafik Theatre will give the performance "Pay Attention to the Walker!" as homage to the legendary play "The Walker", dedicated to Janko Polić Kamov. The performance "Pay Attention to the Walker!" has been created as homage to two significant points that formed the work of this independent theatre group, to the poet of swearers and anarchy, Janko Polić Kamov, and to the cult play "The Walker" dating back to 1998.
The Rijeka City Library, in co-operation with the publisher Mentor from Zagreb implements the programme called "Kamo(v) danas?" , which consists of three parts: "Kamov in short" (competition for a short story inspired by Kamov and his work), "Kamov on an Empty Stomach" (a creative writing workshop for high school students) and "Kamov aloud" (the project's final evening).
The Publishing Centre – Rijeka prepares for this year a release of the book written by Mladen Urem "Kamov and His Times", one number of the magazine "New Kamov" will be completely dedicated to Janko Polić Kamov, and his novel "The Dried-Out Mire" will be translated into German. The book written by Mladen Urem follows with many photographs the places of the sojourn and life of Janko Polić Kamov, until his death. The book has been unpretentiously textually conceived, stating the details already known, but it also reveals some new findings tied to the writer's biography.
The association "Ukus" will shoot a medium-length experimental film "Kamo?" to be presented towards the end of September at the cinema "Art kino Croatia", and during the year within a special programme a movie will be presented about Kamov by Bernardin Modrić "The Knight of the Black Curse".
(V.T.)