“Croats United by the Tie” arrives in Sydney 

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

After the exhibition at Macquarie University Sydney, the global traveling exhibition titled “Croats United by the Tie” was hosted in the bustling “Billich Gallery” in the famous area of The Rocks, one of the most elite parts of Sydney.

Mrs. and Mr. Billich provided the space of their gallery and hosted, for the 14th time, the global traveling exhibition that firmly united the Croatian diaspora into one large and inseparable family during the collection of materials. The author of the exhibition and book which is following it is Branka Bezić Filipović. 

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

The renowned painter of Croatian descent, Charles Billich, took the initiative to paint famous Croatian cavalry soldiers from the early 17th century with red scarves around their necks using oil on canvas technique for the first exhibition held at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubrovnik. 

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

Steve Ravić, a film director and producer, director of the production company “Majestic Film” and spokesperson for Billich, brought the mixed technique paintings from Australia to Croatia to enhance the opening of the first-ever exhibition of its kind.

Steve Ravić spoke first about the exhibition, expressing his wholehearted support for the initiative: “It’s an honour to receive recognition from such a valuable organisation. I commend the initiative and efforts of Mrs. Nada Pritisanac Matulich in her endeavour to unite Croats from Croatia with Croats from the diaspora. The Croatian diaspora often remains separated from the homeland, and projects like these will bring the necessary unity that will only strengthen Croatia’s prosperity and Croatian culture worldwide.” He thanked Ilija Raguž and “Stone and Vine Co.” for the wine donation for the event and handed over the floor to the initiator and leader of this project.

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

Nada Pritisanac Matulich emotionally thanked the hosts and all the guests on that occasion. She emphasised the importance of the achieved unity the project reached in a short period of 8 months touring 3 continents. She invited all those who have contributed to the preservation of Croatian culture and unity in numerous Croatian communities in Australia but are not yet involved in the project to join.

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

She also emphasised the importance of another project within the “Tie” project, connecting Croatian veterans, this time in Australia, with veterans of Australia. The first such event was held in Croatia in Pula at the Croatian Veterans’ Home between Croatian veterans and American veterans. 

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

At the end of her presentation, Pritisanac Matulich awarded the “Certificate of Special Recognition” to the “Billich Gallery” and Mrs. Billich, Mr. Billich, Steve Ravić, and Vesna Trokter, and the film studio “Majestic Film.”

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

Mr. Billich then addressed the attendees and expressed his grievances about the authorities of his hometown of Lovran, saying: “They have stolen my art belonging to this gallery in Sydney, owned by my wife Christa Billich. They accused me of not paying the gallery rent in Lovran, using it as a reason to seize my artworks. They have used the media for years to lie about the situation to justify this injustice, while the media and governing bodies have ignored my demands and the right to respond to these lies for almost two decades. Thanks to my friend and producer Steve Ravić, the world is finally learning the truth. 

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

The leading Australian national newspaper ‘The Australian’ featured a large exposé on it, but the mainstream press in Croatia remains silent. My painting ‘Tie’ was part of the ‘Croatian Giants’ series taken by the Lovran Municipality. They separated it from the rest of the ‘Croatian Giants’ series and sold it despite our objections. In honour of this project, I have decided to create a new painting ‘Tie,’ and I hope to reunite it with the rest of the ‘Croatian Giants’ series one day. Once again, thanks to Steve Ravić for countless sleepless nights researching this injustice. I want to emphasise that Steve Ravić has filmed a documentary about me titled ‘Billich: Beyond The Canvas’ and has conducted all this research for the upcoming film ‘My Way’ about my life and this artistic theft.”

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

(Photo: Private album/Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

Steve Ravić added at the end: “I am disappointed that the ruling powers of the homeland and the country of my ancestors have simply stood by and watched this injustice unfold. For over four years, I have been investigating with lawyer Don Markušić, and I have informed Croatian representatives in Australia, officials of the Croatian Government, who claim they cannot do anything. I have also informed the mainstream media in Croatia, which has ignored Billich’s side of the story for years, continuing to publish false information whenever they receive a statement from the Lovran Municipality. Billich paid for the restoration of the Tower in Lovran, and by contract, he was granted a lease of the Tower until 2010, yet he was shamefully evicted from the Tower in 2008. Billich is the one who was robbed, and we must not allow the name of this extraordinary man who has given so much to Croatia to be tarnished. I stand with Charles Billich, and I will continue the fight for justice. We hope for your support in this fight for the truth. For those who want more information about the investigations and the film project, please send an email to [email protected],” Ravić said.