12 authors display their works at the exhibition titled “Experiences of Transcendence in Art / Transzendenzerfahrungen in der Kunst”, presenting themselves with two works. The authors are Tomislav Brajnović, Holger Fitterer, Maja S. Franković, Sigrid Haag, Elmar Interschick, Mirna Kutleša, Lilo Maisch, Ksenija Mogin, Elisabeth Nüchtern, Maja Römer-Fischer, Mauro Stipanov and Anton Vrlić.

This exhibition was first set up in Karlsruhe in 2019 at the initiative of German artist Elmar Interschick, and it questions the idea of possible experiences of transcendence with artists during their creative process, ie with observers, even when not exclusively religious.

Marko Filipović, Mayor of Rijeka, Albert Käuflein, Deputy Mayor of Karlsruhe, Krunoslav Kocijan, Guardian of the Trsat Shrine and Jolanda Todorović, head of the Kortil Gallery and exhibition coordinator welcomed the audience.

“International cooperation is always a challenge, but such projects confirm that it is a great pleasure and an excellent impetus to exchange of experience. I am convinced that such a cross-border dialogue will contribute to the deepening of cooperation between our two cities and open the door to new joint projects. The exhibition was supposed to be set up in Rijeka during 2020, which, unfortunately, did not happen due to the coronavirus pandemic. We are happy that the Rijeka audience now finally has the opportunity to see this exhibition “, said Marko Filipović, Mayor of Rijeka and thanked Krunoslav Kocijan for the opportunity to set up the exhibition in the Hall of John Paul II.

Albert Käuflein, Deputy Mayor of Karlsruhe thanked the City of Rijeka for organising the exhibition as well as for the hospitality and pointed out that a year before, despite the pandemic, the 10th anniversary of friendship and partnership relationships between Rijeka and Karlsruhe had been marked.

“After a long pandemic, we are experiencing a renewal of our cultural life and cooperation and we continue to build our friendship and partnership. In these turbulent, difficult times, friendly cohesion and intercultural cooperation are more important than ever and I am very glad that we can contribute to that with this exhibition, “said Käuflein.

In addition to the artists from Karlsruhe and Rijeka, the opening of the exhibition was attended by, among others, Sandra Krpan and Goran Palčevski, Deputy Mayors of the City of Rijeka, Ana Trošelj, president of the Rijeka City Council, Ivan Šarar, Head of the Department of Culture of the City of Rijeka, Angelika Schmid, International Cooperation Advisor for Cultural Projects of the City of Karlsruhe and Mirjana Diminić and the representatives of the German-Croatian community of Karlsruhe and the surrounding area.

The cooperation agreement for projects between the cities of Karlsruhe and Rijeka was signed on 15 June 2011 in Rijeka and on 16 September 2011 in Karlsruhe. Since then, the two cities have been cooperating intensively, especially on a number of projects in the field of culture and art.

The exhibition remains open until 22 May.