Monument to Salt-Cooking Women

Monument to Salt-Cooking Women, 2021-2026

In collaboration with Marián Ravasz
Architectural project of the site: NFO Architecture Studio, Zagreb

Permanent monument in public space
Concrete, salt-stone, 8 videos, metal signs, walk

Strossmayerovo šetalište and Park Vladimira Nazora, Crikvenica, Croatia

Monument to Salt-Cooking Women, 2021-2026
(Location)

During times of war and famine, local and regional women would cook salt from seawater in their homes to exchange it for food. This ensured the survival of their families while their men fought in wars or worked abroad. This monument commemorates their heroic strength.

In Crikvenica, there is the Monument to Vladimir Nazor (1973), an artwork by Zdenko Kolacio. We designed the counterpart to this monument. We transformed the Nazor monument, changing the meaning of its form while also giving it a new message. While Zdenko Kolacio's stone sculpture composition commemorates a famous man, a political and cultural figure, the concrete monument we designed commemorates the heroism of a local women's community, thereby doing justice to the stories and characters that history has been silent about.

The Monument to Salt-Cooking Women consists of a ground plan appearing in the stone pavement, a white concrete object that changes in real time as the pieces of rock salt evaporate, eight short videos, and a walk between the two monuments.

The videos, in which local women tell stories about how they cooked salt in their childhood, are accessible via QR codes.

The walk connecting the two monuments is an integral part of the monuments, creating a space for remembrance and critical reflection.

Zdenko Kolacio: Monument to Valdimir Nazor, 1973
(Location)

Zdenko Kolacio's stone sculpture composition commemorates a famous man - Vladimir Nazor, a politician, poet, and cultural figure. We designed a counterpart to this monument - the Monument to Salt-Cooking Women. We transformed the Nazor monument, changing the meaning of its form while also giving it a new message. During times of war and famine, local and regional women would cook salt from seawater in their homes to exchange it for food. This ensured the survival of their families while their men fought in wars or worked abroad. The Monument to Salt-Cooking Women pays tribute to the heroism of local women, doing justice to stories and characters that have been underrepresented in history.

The walk connecting the two monuments is an integral part of the monuments, creating a space for remembrance and critical reflection.