GINA SIONOZICH, self-taught Australian artist, began her artistic way when she was 70 years old so she could tell-paint to her grandchildren the story of her origin, youth and migration to Australia. She was born in 1930 in Istrian village of Paroni near Sušnjevica and in 1957 together with her husband Eugen and two children they decided to look for a better life in Australia. Already in 2003 she completed a serial of 14 paintings for Australian National Maritime Museum depicting her arrival from Croatia to Australia. Naïve by style and playful in tone, they tell and intensely personal and powerful story of hope, loss and courage.
In May 2018. Gina donated 24 of her paintings to the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka and they are representing a cross-section of her artistic work as well as emigrant life. With this donation our Museum has established a new collection of emigration.
The inauguration ceremony of this donation will be held at the Atrium of the Governor’s Palace from today May 23 at 5 pm till June 20.