A Mural in Zadar Dedicated to Artistic Creation and Youth Culture

A highly esteemed muralist, illustrator and painter Tomislav Lončarić – Lonac, born in Zagreb in 1987 and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Zagreb, has recently completed a mural on an abandoned building connected to the old, devastated, and much bigger edifice, which is currently in the process of renovation. Hopefully, next year it will be completed and turned into a Cultural Youth Centre.

Besides the mural, there is an indoor skatepark Menza, as well as a squat named “Neverland”. The author decided to use the name of the squat as an inspiration and main theme of his work, but also to associate it with the current local cultural climate, and recent culture in general. The artist believes that all cultural centres, platforms and places represent a kind of a Neverland-place in their own way, where the energy of the youth radiates eternally.

Picasso once said that every child is an artist - the problem is merely how to remain one once you grow up. The answer is to, simply, invest your time in positive energy, by attending theatre performances, visiting art shows, concerts or reading books instead of toxic comments on the internet, by learning how to play an instrument, or attending dance classes. However, to be able to do any of those activities, one needs that one magical space that nurtures Culture with capital "C".

Or maybe, just maybe, Lonac is trying to say "Kudos to Zadar" in his own way; kudos for building something much more useful than fountains or overpriced failed "capital" investments, that are constantly happening all around.

Check out some more recent and interesting murals in Zadar:

Mural in Vruljica Park by artist Alba Miočev

Mural in Stjepan Radić Street by artist Leonard Lesić