19th – 23rd July 2023

Exactly one hundred years have passed since the ethnographic expedition in Croatian historical region of Pokuplje. A small group of enthusiasts and adventurers, employees and associates of the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb, went on a tour of Pokuplje in an unusual way – sailing in kayaks on the Kupa river, on the route from the city of Karlovac to the city of Sisak. Expedition consisted of the colorful company – two museum curators: Vladimir Tkalčić and Milovan Gavazzi, two painters: Srećko Sabljak and Maksimilijan Vanka, and of five more friends of theirs: Marija Bohaček b. Verlič, Anka Filjak, born Bohaček, Maksimilian Bohaček, Matija and Marijan Filjak.

In four weeks, they sailed a distance of about one hundred kilometers and visited 34 villages on both banks of the Kupa river. They researched the inhabitants of Pokuplje during their everyday life and during festivities, thus recording their everyday and festive clothes in photographs. Also, traditionally built houses and outbuildings were photographed. Collected information was later translated into professional and scientific works, and the experiences and encounters into works of art.

The program of the 57th International Folklore Festival Zagreb will mark this great anniversary of an interesting field venture, and the main concert program will feature folklore groups from the Pokuplje area.