The exhibition “Ciklus El Shatt” by Flora Novak presents a cycle of etchings at the Church of St. John in Hvar on Thursday, July 9 at 9:00 PM.
“Ciklus El Shatt” Exhibition by Flora Novak | Historical memory through printmaking and symbolism
When: Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Where: Church of St. John, Hvar
The exhibition “Ciklus El Shatt” by Flora Novak presents ten etchings, each measuring 50 x 70 cm. The works depict key moments from the refugee experience of people from coastal and island areas of Dalmatia during the Second World War.
Following the capitulation of Italy, around thirty thousand people were evacuated to the Sinai Peninsula, to the Egyptian desert camp of El Shatt. Although other camps existed in the desert area, El Shatt was notable for the high level of self-organization among its refugees.
Through her works, the artist primarily explores the strength, resilience and capability of the refugees who, despite difficult living conditions, created a tent settlement that met basic human needs such as food and healthcare, as well as intellectual and creative needs.
The cycle functions as a chronologically arranged surreal document of displacement, conveying the complex social structure and emotional intensity of this historical experience through symbolism, figures, collage-like composition and linear stylization.
About the artist
Flora Novak was born in Zagreb in 2001. She completed her undergraduate university studies in Art Education and Fine Arts at the Arts Academy in Split in 2025.
She is currently a first-year graduate student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, Department of Art Education, in the class of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Art. Igor Čabraja.
Her practice primarily focuses on intaglio printmaking techniques and socially and politically marginalized themes. Through a conceptual approach and stylization, she emphasizes the importance of culture of remembrance and the ethical questions surrounding political influence on the preservation of local heritage.
