D’Annunzio’s Martyr
This is the catalogue of the exhibition which was inaugurated on 12. 09. 2019 on 100th anniversary from D’Annunzio’s occupation of Rijeka and this is a work by Tea Perinčić, PhD, senior curator of the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka and Ana-Maria Milčić, art historian and external collaborator of the Museum. This catalogue as same as the exhibition gives an interpretation of the historical events which happened in Rijeka from the end of 1918 until the beginning of 1921 when Gabriele D’Annunzio left Rijeka, through a scope of real and female figure as a peronification. Woman represents a homeland, city – political body which is manipulated and used in public communication of territorial pretensions and aspirations. Woman is Italy, Rijeka – Fiume, Governor’s palace where D’Annunzio lived for 16 months of his dictatorship in this city. Women, those real, who arrived to Rijeka because and for D’Annunzio were as well political bodies who together with women from Rijeka – Fiumanke fought for dream of Italian Rijeka – Fiume to become real. They were as same as the city and homeland – martyrs who sacrificed themselves for political ideas promoted by Gabriele D’Annunzio. After he left Rijeka or them, they were to face in pain the consequences of their illusions. Female as a political body here is interpreted through presentation of some Italian artists – futurists whose works are as reproductions presented at the exhibition. The Exhibition also talks about a woman who was from the other side of the Italian nationalistic / irredentist paradigm – Croatian woman from Rijeka – Zora Blažić who describedher life during D’Annunzio’s occupation in her diary which is preserved within the Museum collections. This catalogue contains illustrations – photography and reproductions of sfew works of some Italian futurist artists which are also presented at the exhibition as well as references to some additional literature and archival sources.