Already in the name we chose—Živi Atelje DK—Living Atelier DK—is embedded the elements of our vision. “Živi,” or Living, refers to a living organism that develops, communicates, adapts itself and shapes the environment. “Atelje,” or Atelier, is a center of creation, experiment, camaraderie and collaboration. “DK” refers to the initials of the surname of the artist and academic sculptor, Vera Dajht-Kralj, whose collection of artwork—her physical and creative heritage—represents inspiration and the axis around which we base our activities.
Vera’s atelier was always referred to as an “open atelier” artists, architects, craftsmen, writers, people from all walks of life came for a coffee, a rakia and camaraderie. Ideas were exchanged and joint projects were imagined and developed in those nearly 60 years that Vera occupied and created within her atelier at Ilica 110. This social and creative activity inspires the spirit of our non-profit cooperative Živi Atelje DK.
We are an independent, interdisciplinary, self-organized collective, registered as a non-governmental and non-profit organization focused on preservation and promotion of Vera’s work, support and cooperation with artists, exploration of understanding of otherness, and inclusion of the public through and into art, locally and internationally.
Živi Atelje DK is also a member of CROSOL, an umbrella consortium of non-profits that focuses on international programs carried out by Croatian non-governmental organisations.
(For those of you interested in the senses and the sound of the name, a note on pronounciation. ‘Živi’ is a two syllable word ‘ži’ and ‘vi’. The ‘ž’ is pronounced like the ‘si’ in the word ‘vision’ or ‘su’ in the word ‘pleasure’ (phonetic sign ʒ)—with the ‘i’: as in sea. The ‘vi’ is pronounced like the letter ‘v’ in English and ‘Atelje’ is the same as ‘atelier.’)
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