My parents’ art collection moved from Zagreb to Belgrade in 1948, from Belgrade to Reading in 1993, and from Reading to Motovun in 2003. There are nine oil paintings: three are by Mujadžić, two by Šestić, and one each by Crnobori, Prica, Šeferov, and Uzelac. There are two prints: one by Prica and another by Reiser. And there is one ink drawing by Mujezinović. The paintings by Prica and Šeferov are portraits of my father and mother, respectively, and one of the paintings by Mujadžić is a portrait of them both on the day they were married. The date—December 13, 1936—is on the painting itself. I grew up with these twelve pieces. They are emblematic of the Croatian capital between the two world wars. As they were all presents from the artists, I thought of giving the collection to a Croatian museum, but several friends close to the museum world here thought I was crazy. Too many such gifts have mysteriously vanished in recent years. Instead, I made a small gallery in my house. Today I hung the collection. Each piece has its own lighting fixture. The room is otherwise bare, except for a carved wooden chest I also associate with my childhood. Ever since I hung the collection, I keep returning to the gallery and talking to my parents. I have nothing special to tell them, though. All my words are those of endearment.

Addendum I (November 20, 2003)

Exactly four months after July 20, when I moved to Motovun for good, today I completed three one-page leaflets about everything I have to offer to the visitor of my new hometown. There are two permanent exhibitions in Ca’ Bon Gallery, both of which can be seen by appointment only: downstairs is my own show, entitled Cave Art Now, and the Milena and Branko Bon Collection is upstairs. In addition, there is a leaflet about my three books, all of which are available from the Gallery by direct purchase only: Residua: Selections, 1976-1995 (1996), Belgrade Postcards (2002), and Istrian Postcards (2003). Forthcoming is the fourth book, Cave Art Now (2004), which goes well with my permanent exhibition. The three leaflets will soon have their joint web site, as well. I wish to attract visitors, but I want to select them carefully. I certainly do not wish to see hoards of tourists poking around my house for nothing better to do in Motovun. Which is why the leaflets will not be on offer around town. They are only for those who learn about Ca’ Bon Gallery by word of mouth or through the World Wide Web. Anyhow, my parents’ collection is likely to become the main draw of the Gallery, for many of the artists on show are very well known in Croatia. Clever of me to hang it upstairs!

Addendum II (November 21, 2003)

“What?!” yelled Zoran Radojčić, my friend form Motovun, when I told him about my wish to let people know about all the goodies in my house. “All you’ll get is a guy at your door, who will stick a pistol up your mouth, and ask you to show him your parents’ collection!” According to Zoran, Croatia is a wild place still. Art objects are in special demand, too. The best I can do is keep mum about anything of value in my possession. He had in mind my parents’ collection, not my own paintings or my books. This is where I appear to be completely safe. Ca’ Bon Gallery has a bright future.

Addendum III (March 26, 2010)

I just learned from Croatian newspapers that Nikola or Nikica Reiser died in Zagreb a few days ago. Born in 1918, he was ninety-three years old. I have never met him, but he was among my parents’ friends many years ago. Anyhow, the first thought that crossed my mind when I heard the news was that no-one in my parents’ collection is alive any longer. An entire era is now finished. God knows why, but this realization shook me a little. Eras are supposed to be beyond our ken.