The exhibition thematises the centenary of D’Annunzio’s occupation of Rijeka from the perspective of the women who lived in Rijeka and became his victims, just as the city itself became a victim of the extreme nationalism of that time – predominately Italian.
As part of the introductory programme to the exhibition Borders – Between Order and Chaos, this exhibition thematises the centenary of D’Annunzio’s occupation of Rijeka; “Citta olocausta” or simply “Martyr” as he often called Rijeka. The exhibition presents the perspective of several women who lived in Rijeka at the time, whether they were born in the city like Zora Blažić and Nicolina Fabris, or if they arrived because of D’Annunzio, like Luis Baccara, a legionnaire and wife of a legionnaire.
In the pictorial representations of the time, Rijeka was often personified as a woman – a girl martyr, which is also presented in this exhibition by referring primarily to the works of the Italian futurists. Finally, also to be focussed on is D’Annunzio’s relationship with the women with whom he had romantic links, and who at the end, after the breakdown of their relationships, were “physically and emotionally exhausted”, just as the city of Rijeka itself was.
The exhibition’s curators are Tea Perinčić (HR) and Ana-Maria Milčić (HR), and the designers are Sanjin Kunić (HR) and Nikolina Radić Štivić (HR).