Easter Egg Exhibition

The Croatian association "Matija Gubec" from Tavankut organized an exhibition of Easter eggs in the traditional straw technique, which is cultivated as a unique naive art by the Bunjevac Croatian women of this Bačka village.

About a dozen straw makers, as they call themselves, exhibited several dozen Easter eggs decorated with specially shaped straw inspired by the motif of the upcoming holiday.

“Before us are not only decorated eggs and paintings, before us is the spiritual heritage of the Bunjevac Croats shaped with straw. These works are much more than handicrafts, they are witnesses of folk life, religious motifs and the indissoluble bond between man, land and faith,” it was said at the opening ceremony organized by the association "Matija Gubec" and the Gallery of the First Colony of Naive Art in the Straw Technique in Tavankut, a village near Subotica.

Straw paintings and Easter eggs are an important identity marker of this local Croatian community, it was stated and emphasized that straw Easter eggs "combine folk customs and religious motifs, reminding us of the indissoluble connection between faith and everyday life".

The Easter exhibition was previously opened by two associations, based on the work of members of their straw department, in their village of Tavankut, preserving the tradition of Lenten and Easter customs.

As part of the pre-Easter program, "Matija Gubec" organized an Easter workshop in the straw technique, a bicycle station, and a presentation of the customs of the "guardians of the Holy Sepulchre" and "Water Monday" is planned.

The Croatian Cultural and Educational Society "Matija Gubec" Tavankut was founded in 1946, based on the work of a drama group.

The association stands out for its work in preserving the tradition of Bunjevac Croats and the unique folk art of creating straw paintings and objects.

Source: HRT