Opening of the Exhibition “Let's Paint with Wine” at the “Old Village” Museum in Kumrovec

The “Old Village” Museum in Kumrovec invites you to the opening of the exhibition Let's Paint with Wine, which will take place on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at 11 am, as part of the traditional Martinje v Kumrovcu celebration.

The exhibition is a multifaceted project that brings together visual art, science and the ethnological heritage of the Croatian Zagorje in an innovative way. Through the technique of vinorel – painting with wine instead of watercolour paint – drops of wine make their way from the glass onto paper. Thanks to the chemical composition of natural pigments (anthocyanins) and the processes of oxidation, works created using this technique continue to evolve and change their hues long after the artist has put down the brush. The exhibition's scientific perspective is provided by Dr Ivana Šikuten, a Senior Research Assistant at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, who offers expert insights into the properties of pigments, while Anita Paun Gadža, Museum Adviser at the “Old Village” Museum in Kumrovec, introduces visitors to the rich traditions and customs associated with St Martin's Day.

The project is based on collaboration between museums, local associations, winemakers and artists. An important contribution to its development has come from cooperation with the “Grozd” Kumrovec Association of Winemakers, Winegrowers and Friends of Good Wine and the “Antun Mihanović” Klanjec Winemakers' Association. Wines for the creation of the artworks were generously provided by wine producers and wineries from Kumrovec (Prekratić Winery, Pri Brozu Family Farm, Enolog – proprietor Mara Miošić Greblički, Zvonko Županić) and winemakers and producers from Klanjec (TRS Sever Winery, Petrišić Wines, Kupilek – proprietor Igor Jambrešić, Branimir Lovrečki Family Farm and Stanko Šprajc).

The artistic section of the exhibition brings together works by established artists, local creators and emerging talents. At the heart of the exhibition are works by Ivica Kiš, a pioneer of this technique in Croatia, Maja Vukina Bogović, Mirjana Drempetić Hanžić, Nikola Sinković, Ana Kapetan, Mateja Harapin, Toni Bišćan, Zdenko Sokolić, and members of the “Oton Iveković” Art Association from Klanjec (Marina Budimir, Sanja Zebolc, Josip Pleško, Nena Tramišak, Gordana Držaić, Jasminka Držaić and Jadranka Husnjak), who learned the vinorel technique through a series of practical workshops.

The exhibition is curated by Mateja Harapin, Curator and Museum Educator.

The project was funded by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors until 28 February 2027.