The exhibition of paintings by Lajoš Brigović was opened by the mayor of Hrvatski Židan Štefan Krizmanić, with a musical performance provided by the Židanci tamburitza orchestra
Gradišće Croatians from Hungary staged an Evening with the Gradišće Croats of Hungary event featuring an exhibition and tamburitza music for Zagreb audiences on the 2nd of September at the Hungarian Institute in Zagreb. An exhibition was also opened on the occasion of the paintings of Lajoš Brigović. In his opening words the head of the Hungarian Institute Dr Dinko Šokčević referred to Brigović as the greatest Gradišće Croatian painter in Hungary.
Writing about this esteemed painter in the exhibition catalogue, Šokčević also noted that, “Lajoš Brigović has spent his entire life drawing and painting the same image: the magic of the quotidian, the world of his hometown,” as encapsulated in the painter’s works and words. “My first experience as a painter was the stunning beauty of nature, from the wind and sun-beaten and wrinkled human faces, the forlorn shacks and the gracious movement of the wild forest beasts.” Lajoš Brigović was born in the Hungarian village of Prisiki. He received his education in Budapest and Pécs and spent much of his life teaching pupils the Croatian language and art. He has staged over thirty exhibitions, both group and solo, in Hungary, Austria and Croatia. Besides painting, he has been very active in the cultural life of the Croatian community in the town of Hrvatski Židan (Horvátzsidany).
Following the warm and touching words about the life and work of an artist that has left an indelible trace in the life of Hrvatski Židan, the exhibition was officially opened by the town’s mayor Štefan Krizmanić. Also appearing at the opening was the excellent Židanci tamburitza orchestra, whose joyful music graced this pleasant evening featuring the Gradišće Croatians of Hungary. Also on hand for the opening was Dubravka Severinski, the senior advisor in the sector for the legal status and status issues of Croatians abroad at the State Office for Croats Abroad, and Croatian Heritage Foundation secretary Diana Mašala Perković and the head of the department for indigenous Croatian minorities Marija Hećimović.
Text by: Marija Hećimović
