“The First Istrian Regional Exhibition” – the Centennial

The exhibition “The First Istrian Regional Exhibition” – the Centennial, organized by the Croatian Museum of Tourism, was opened at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22nd of 2010 at the Juraj Šporer Art Pavilion in Opatija.

Great international exhibitions, the first of which was organized in London in 1851, became a model for other similar state and regional exhibitions organized starting from the second half of the 19th century. The goal of these great exhibitions was to showcase achievements from all areas of human creativity in one place. This context also includes the First Istrian Regional Exhibition, opened in Koper on May 1st of 1910, after three years of thorough preparation.

The exhibition complex included the monastery of St. Claire and Brolo Square in the very center of the city, an island at the time. The exhibition presented the historical, cultural and economic growth of Istria from prehistoric times until the beginning of the 20th century and heavily influenced the formation of Istrian identity. Conceptually and thematically it was divided in seven segments: seafaring, bath and climate resorts and recreational tourism towns, crafts, arts – science – literature, agriculture, independent municipal and health institutions, education and welfare. Visitors could enjoy the exhibition until the end of October of 1910.

The photographic material created during the exhibition is kept at the photo archives of the City Museum of History and Art in Trieste. The photographic series The First Istrian Exhibition contains 87 photographs, most of which are negatives on large glass panes (18 x 24 cm). The Trieste museum received these materials from the municipality of Koper on July 27th of 1910 and from collector Carl Baxa from Lindar on December 7th of 1920. The pictures were taken by photographers Giuseppe and Biagio Padovan and Pietro Opiglia.

These photographs, mostly previously unpublished, depict the different thematic segments, the setup and displayed objects, staff and visitors. Although they do not have any particular artistic merit, they are undoubtedly valuable historical artifacts that depict a part of the cultural, economic and social life of Istria at the time of their making. This exhibition has brought them to life and reminded us of this significant Istrian event from the early 20th century, the First Istrian Regional Exhibition of 1910 in Koper.

The exhibition will remain open until January 12th of 2011.