THE X FACTOR
THE X FACTOR FROM CROATIA: A MIND FROM THE FUTURE An exhibition honoring Nikola Tesla in Zagreb. The year's TOP science and art event is a unique multumedia experience TEXT BY AJDA BORAK PHOTO CREDIT REAL GROUP
An exhibition which immerses visitors into the magical world of Nikola Tesla, one of the world’s greatest visionaries. It takes you on a journey without a beginning or an end, through a process of inspiration, creativity and production. By merging the elements of a ‘live’ film, video set design, computer game, magical hologram and light adventure into a unique virtual reality multimedia experience, this exhibition is a must-see. Interest in Nikola Tesla's work has not faded throughout the decades. This exhibition, organised in collaboration with partners and sponsors and presented by the REAL GROUP and the Association of Fine Artists (HDLU), is a sensation in the region and in Europe in terms of production art. This journey to the future takes place in the Meštrović Pavilion in Zagreb. In ad-
dition to the functional and aesthetic reasons, it is an interesting fact that these two geniuses were friends. Award-winning Helena Bulaja Madunić is the author and curator of the exhibition, which presents her ten-year authorial work. The creation of this experimental futuristic spectacle, modelled on the vision of Nikola Tesla, is a product of her collaboration with a group of 20 international artists who operate in the field of synergy of science and art by merging film, animation, video art and technical innovation. After a four months display in Zagreb, the exhibition is then leaving for New York, Prague, Paris, Budapest and Dubai.
THE X FACTOR FROM GREECE: ATHENS - WORLD BOOK CAPITAL 2018 The place where the universal heart of the written word will be beating for the entire year. TEXT BY AJDA BORAK PHOTO CREDIT CITY OF ATHENS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Athens is not just an excellent XL Meeting Destination and the 2nd among the 15 Best Destinations of the New Europe Meetings Star 2017, but this year the city is proudly answering to an additional calling. The 'X Factor' of Athens is its title of World Book Capital 2018. This historic city offers an interesting location and ideal weather, and has infrastructure befitting a major European capital. World Book Capital is an initiative of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. The title is nominated every year to a different city and the programmes run from 23rd April (World Book and Copyright 76
Day) to 22nd April of the following year. The whole year will be full of books, reading, culture and events that promote knowledge that, these days, is sought after and readily accessible to all. The aim of the festivities is to bring books to every neighbourhood and to every corner of the city. Georgios Kaminis, Mayor of Athens and President of the Organising Committee, says on the official website: “We are proud of this distinction. Our ambition and objective is for Athens to become a more book-friendly city, with greater opportunities for learning and knowledge.”
