Vlasta Delimar art project sparks debate in Zagreb

Artist Vlasta Delimar has sparked debate in Zagreb following the installation of large-scale billboards featuring nude female bodies on Savska Street. The project, titled ‘Towards the Dignity of Aging,’ is part of a multi-location anti-retrospective exhibition at the Galerija Forum marking the artist's 70th birthday.

The artwork focuses on themes of aging, sexuality, and the visibility of the female body in society, specifically challenging visual languages that traditionally prioritize youth and desirability. The billboards, positioned near a busy tram stop, have raised questions regarding the boundaries of artistic expression and public decency.

While Croatian law does not explicitly regulate nudity in public spaces, the Misdemeanor Act against Public Order and Peace allows for fines or imprisonment for those who ‘offend or disparage the moral feelings of citizens.’ Legal interpretation remains a point of contention as the project balances artistic freedom against public standards.