Recently, the issue of the lack of cultural spaces and adequate support for the independent cultural sector has re-emerged in public discourse. Under the pressure of urbanization and the unstoppable rise in the market value of spaces, many independent actors are forced to close the doors of their galleries, theaters, or cinemas, while artists increasingly articulate their own needs regarding working conditions, as well as propose revitalization of abandoned spaces that could strengthen cultural infrastructure. During their residency in Zagreb, four artists have been attuned to the current problems of the community regarding the (in)accessibility of cultural spaces, and at the exhibition "Operation Nova – Metamorphoses of Cultural Spaces," they present the collected data and insights about the specific needs of actors in the independent cultural sector. The artworks serve as a sort of interpretation of the current situation in the field of art and culture, with the aim of encouraging visitors to reflect on important issues.

 

Renea Begolli

Every good thing is always somewhere else, 2025

"Recognition is selective. Inclusion is conditional. Space is borrowed.

I have an opportunity today, but not always, and not everyone does. This is not just about access—it is about who is placed on the map and who remains in its margins. To be an artist is to be in constant movement—seeking opportunities, negotiating visibility, adapting to unstable conditions. It means encountering expectations, to explain, to justify, to correct misconceptions, before you can even exist as an artist.

This work explores the contradictions of space and representation—the struggle of belonging yet being excluded, being visible yet unseen. At the same time, it interrogates the potential of art to exist beyond these imposed structures, to carve out space even when it is denied, to question whether the temporary can be just as radical as the permanent."

 

Anyla Kabashi

What We Knead, 2025

"What We Knead is a zine that tells the story of Has and a Hasjani baker in Zagreb. Developed from a personal experience of living in Zagreb and noticing the presence of bakeries, the project reflects on migration, integration, and the ways cultural practices endure.  

Through meeting a family of Hasjani bakers, it became clear that these connections are not just remnants of the past but remain an integral part of Zagreb’s daily life. The ties between Kosovo, Zagreb, and bread-making continue to shape neighborhoods and routines. In this spirit, the zine reflects on how traditions adapt and persist, carrying with them stories of resilience and belonging."

 

Urška Škerl

The Fair-City, 2025

"The Fair-City project searches for models on how to activate spaces to be used by independent cultural scenes, in exchange with the local community and educational system, and in cooperation with local politics, to eventually develop their own economy and possibly break the cycle of project-to-project precarious lifestyle. It asks how the current EU-funded project we are participating in, Operation Nova, can continue and evolve beyond the Final Report. The outcome of the residency research is a hypothetical “New European Project for Culture” and takes the application form for EU Grants and the project concept as an art form in itself, “breaking out of the drawer”."

 

Lea Topolovec

Can you see the carpet flying?, 2025

"An abandoned carpet I encounter on the corner of my street opens a door to my imagination. It urges me to reclaim it. Not only as an object but as a space, transforming it into a temporary ground for gathering, sharing, and creating. I invite local artists Mihaela Spiegl and Jiao Guo to join me in its revitalisation. Together, we inhabit this physical and conceptual space through conversation, participatory exercises, and storytelling woven through objects and their relations. Further, the wind comes carrying the voice of a local musician, Lucija Maroević who weaves yet another layer of presence into the space. This carpet becomes our micro cultural space—a site of collective creation, a squat for imagination. The title suggests its nomadic and intangible qualities."

 

 

 

The exhibition is a collaboration between the association Operation City, Studio Gallery Klet, and SMAK press, as part of the project Operation Nova: Re-imagining Cultural Spaces in a New European Context, which focuses on establishing the foundations for a quality transition towards a sustainable support system for independent cultural spaces. The project is co-funded by the European Union, the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the Office for Associations, and the City Office for Culture and Civil Society. The work of Operation City and Studio Gallery Klet is supported by the National Foundation and the Kultura Nova Foundation.