Artistic surprises on the streets of Zagreb as “Okolo” starts

(Photo: Ernest Mazarekić)

Take a unique artistic walk through Zagreb and discover site-specific installations and street art interventions

This year, in cooperation with the Zagreb Tourist Board, “Okolo” (Around) continues with artistic surprises that beautify the face of the city, create an atmosphere of optimism in these challenging times and invite citizens to rediscover Zagreb through art. From August 20 to 30, everyone is invited to go on an artistic tour of the city and see a series of site-specific installations and street art interventions signed by local creative forces.

By placing art projects in the city landscape, “Okolo” revives public spaces and turns them into places where art spontaneously touches the everyday life of the city. It highlights local artists and their personal experience and vision of the city, while bringing contemporary art closer to a wider audience.

(Photo: Ernest Mazarekić)

“The fourth edition of the “Okolo” project, dedicated to the artistic exploration of the city, schedules a new encounter with art in hidden streets, forgotten passages, the canopy of Zagreb’s parks and the corners of the Upper Town. With the idea of supporting the local art community, it brings together several local artists who will refresh Zagreb with their interesting, non-invasive interventions in public space and make our everyday life different and more beautiful,” said Martina Bienenfeld, director of the Tourist Board.

Temporary site-specific installations and street art interventions that you can find around the city this year are signed by young sculptors Matej Vukovic and Manuela Pauk, multimedia artist Anja Leko, street artist Boris Bare, sculptor Helena Ohnjec, designer Iva Capak and design teams The All, klasja&zita and Stella Beloš and Iva Peručić.

(Photo: Ernest Mazarekić)

Start your artistic walk in Obrtnički passage where you will be symbolically greeted by golden hands (The All). On the way to the Upper Town, in the passage to Zakmardi’s stairs, discover what the new-old Red Carpet (Boris Bare) looks like or what is hiding behind the curtain that is being raised (Manuela Pauk) in Kamenita Street. In the labyrinth on the Gradec plateau, solve the Riddle of the Future (klasja&zita) and in the Bela IV Park rest your head Among the clouds (Matej Vukovic).

(Photo: Ernest Mazarekić)

On Strossmayer’s promenade you can meet Acrobats (Helena Ohnjec) who keep Matoš company, and on Katz Platz, in the passage by Tomić’s stairs, you meet an unusual gang of cats (Anja Leko). At the very end of the tour, in Tuškanac Park, jump into the hammock and become a Tree Observer. All the way, look carefully where you are walking and you may come across great miniatures by Ivo Capak that will adorn 17 mini locations.

(Photo: Ernest Mazarekić)

“Okolo” was launched in 2018 by Nas dve (Ana Mikin, Tina Kovačićek) in cooperation with the Zagreb Tourist Board. “Singing forest” in Bela IV Park, woolen heart that became a symbol of Zagreb’s recovery after the earthquake, red carpet to the Upper town, silk sculpture in Tomićeva street, large floor mural on the playground above Dubravkin put, light installation in the canopy of Ribnjak park, a sleeping giant in Petrinjska street, cute street miniatures in play with urban elements and plants that play to the touch – these are just some of the interesting interventions with which “Okolo” has already enriched the streets of Zagreb and delighted citizens and tourists at the same time. Take a walk through the artistic side of Zagreb.

(Photo: Ernest Mazarekić)

You can follow the interventions on Facebook and Instagram pages or check them out on a walk around the city by a red round tag.

The event is realized with the support of the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb.