Meeting doyen of Croatian visual poetry Borben Vladović as part of 2026 “Heritage at Hand at CroAtrium”

Starting on 21 May 2026, the National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK) will be hosting a presentation showcasing the personal archive of the doyen of Croatian visual poetry Borben Vladović preserved as part of Croatia’s national library collection.

Entitled Meeting a Poet – Borben Vladović, the presentation is being organised as the fourth event of this year’s edition of the Library’s Heritage at Hand at CroAtrium programme. After an introduction in which literary theorist Branko Čegec will interview Vladović, the event participants will have the opportunity to see an exhibition of selected items from the donated archive. Put on in the Library’s side lobby, it will remain on view by 30 May 2026.

Visual poetry – verses that are a must-see

Having originated in mid-20^th century, visual poetry appeared in Croatia in the late 1960s and developed in close connection with conceptual art. Bringing together visual art and literature on an equal footing, it is not merely illustrated text, but a dynamic act of two media permeating one another, in which language, typeface, orthography and other language-related systems are used as a visual-spatial element for creating poetical content and conveying the poet’s intent.

Owing to Vladović’s contribution to visual poetry’s production and development as its initiator in Croatia and to his presence during the 1970s on the international art and literary scene, the donated archive is an invaluable research resource when it comes to this unique form of literature. Particularly valuable in this context are the manuscripts it contains of Vladović’s visual poems as well as his unpublished verses, of which a selection will be displayed at the exhibition.

In addition to Vladović’s own works of visual poetry, which he wrote until 1980, the archive also includes visual poems by other authors published all across the world and the works of so-called mail art, as well as artist’s books, samizdat publications and other written and printed works of neo-avant-garde poetry.

Croatica – safeguarding stories of the creators of Croatian heritage

Enriched by this valuable donation, Croatica preserves the works of visual poetry by other Croatian authors, such as Branko Maleš, Zvonimir Mrkonjić, Josip Stošić, Branimir Donat and others.

The personal archives of Croatian writers and other artists, as well as of scholars, researchers and other creators of Croatian heritage are a particularly precious part of NSK’s holdings. As a vital source of data on Croatian authors and their works, documenting social and other circumstances which marked their lives and oeuvres, they are specially curated as Croatica’s greatest treasures.

The event will take place at CroAtrium (12.00, conference hall Judita), join us free of charge by registering at osj@nsk.hr.

If you have a hard time choosing between literature and visual art, this time you don’t have to choose. Just come to our next Heritage at Hand at CroAtrium event and enjoy a fusion like nothing else!