Forum—Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts journal for literature published my essay Painting Memento in Space Beyond History

Last week was quite nice—after working summer one by one the results are visible, so on Tuesday I took a stroll from the Zagreb Office for Culture to the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts to get a copy of the journal Forum, in which my newest essay was published. It is entitled Painting Memento in Space Beyond History: Fabijanić’s homage to Ivo Šebalj 100 years after Spengler’s Decline of the West. Oswald Spengler’s colossal book was once again the cornerstone for my contemporary concepts, and this time inevitable were also Goethe, Nietzsche, Thomas Mann and Višnja Machiedo; the latter with her masterpiece on French surrealism (it is a book where it is not certain who is better—the Surrealists or Machiedo interpreting them, so it is no surprise that she received Order of the Legion of Honor from the French Government). In addition, many other authors helped me to argue the interpretation of the fantastic exhibition of Ivo Šebalj’s paintings, set up this spring in the Zagreb Modern Gallery by my professor, mentor and friend, the Croatian renowned architect Nenad Fabijanić.

Oswald Spengler and The Hour of Decision

Since Spengler is my favorite philosopher and one of my favorite authors in general, the coincidence that happened to me on my return from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts shocked me positively. As I walked through the Tesla Street, my eyes slid down to the window of the AGM bookstore and I could not believe what I saw: right in front of me there was a newly published translation of Spengler’s The Hour of Decision—the book I already wanted to buy in English because unfortunately I do not speak German well enough to read the Spengler in original (it is a pity because he writes at such a high literary level that he could, and perhaps should, have been a writer). And when I took a closer look, I realized that the whole next window was entirely decorated with just one book—his Man and Technics—the book which I already have in my collection, so on my return from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, besides the copy of Forum, I also brought one more Spengler with me.

Oswald Spengler: The Hour of Decision—I saw my favorite author’s book on the way back from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Authors published in Forum

Is it necessary to point out what an honor it is to be featured on the cover of Forum, a journal for literature whose editor at the very beginning was the great Croatian writer Miroslav Krleža (my work could have been published in the Chronicles instead, which would also be nice, or my work did not have to be selected for publication at all). And here are some of the great Croatian names that were featured on the cover of Forum: Viktor Žmegač, Luko Paljetak, Tonko Maroević, Mladen Machiedo, Pavao Pavličić, Julijana Matanović, Ivo Brešan, Dorta Jagić, Dubravko Detoni, Petar Selem, Krešimir Nemec, Ante Stamać, Ivan Aralica, Goran Tribuson, Slobodan Novak, Zvonimir Mrkonjić, Slobodan Šnajder, Jakša Fiamengo, Žarko Paić, Drago Štambuk, Slavko Jendričko. In addition, Forum frequently publishes translations of literary giants— from Dante to Yesenin, Lorca and many others. But it is always tricky to list because it is highly likely to forget someone really important, so I apologize in advance and ask kindly to keep in mind that I did not mention the names alphabetically, but in the “Surrealist madness.”

World-famous artist’s support to emerging author

Epilogue: since last week my book Abstract Reproductive as Productive Art: Chromatic Fantasies of the Composer Alexander Scriabin, Painter Alexej Jawlensky and Pianist Ivo Pogorelich is kept in the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts Library, and after being featured on the Official Website of Alexej von Jawlensky Archiv in Switzerland since 2017, it is now featured on the Official Website of the legendary pianist Ivo Pogorelich, for which I cordially thank Maestro. It is a big deal when a world-renowned artist supports a rather anonymous author—it is also very, very brave! Therefore, at this moment I wish to point out that my essays would never come to existence without fantastic artists whose works I interpret. And since Pogorelich as a music interpreter had enormous impact on my work throughout my life, in a medium different from his I try to do exactly what he does, which is to plunge into the core of the original artwork and present it in an entirely new way.

Achievements should be celebrated

In the end, what would be any success if one had no one to share it with, so after celebrating it with my colleague and friend Sandra Belak at our favorite Zagreb cake-shop Magnolia, now I celebrate it with all of you—my readers!