The CNT Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka reminds that we live in a secular state in which cultural institutions and manifestations have the right to their autonomy, just as artists have a constitutional protection of freedom of speech and of expressing their own critical opinion, in this case in the language of theatre art. We consider it unacceptable that any group of citizens can forbid other citizens to see a theatre production. Each attempt to forbid this evening’s performance is actually an attempt to introduce censorship, which is against the foundations of democratic countries, while protesters in front of the CNT in Split are also threatening with aggression to the physical integrity of artists. The performance Our Violence and Your Violence deals with the relationship between East and West, religion and politics, capital and freedom, asking the question as what is it with that we pay the price of comfort of our European lives in the time of one of the biggest crises after World War II.
Contrary to the media articles, there is NO URINATING on the Croatian flag, the Croatian flag IS NOT USED in the performance but the flag of the NDH (Independent Croatian puppet state of the WWII Germany), Jesus Christ DOES NOT APPEAR in the performance as a historical figure or a character, but as a misused symbol of political domination that the states of the so-called “West” use for manipulating.
We believe that those who are against the performance in Split are a minority and that the city of Split is ready for a theatre that directly affronts critical issues of the post-colonial times, global and our local everyday life.
Jelena Kovačić, CNT Ivan pl. Zajc Croatian drama director
Marin Blažević, CNT Ivan pl. Zajc general manager
