Awaiting landscapes, Pag 

2014 - 2023

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"... Awaiting landscapes is a photo-shoot project by Ana Opalić, which she began in 2014 at various locations on the island of Pag, regularly outside of the tourist season. The specific landscape of the island during winter months allows for shooting of supranatural scenes — an emptiness that is almost tangible, as if a result of some event such as was, for example, the pandemic shutdown.

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Special lightning effects on some of the photos bring about the impression of an 'illusion', whilst mist and points of 'inaccessibility', wherein the main frames are incorporated into the background, thereby bringing about a totally different atmosphere where all and anything is possible.

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In many of her frames, Opalić expands the landscape vision, which is additionally burdened by the memory of the concentration camp Slana. It might be that one cannot see it, but the notion of it existing there once is irreversibly connected to the city of Pag.

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The feeling of isolation and a type of menace is accentuated by the island's landscape itself, with its sparse vegetation, a somewhat raw, stony, moonlike impression. Attentively composed, Ana's combinations are dehumanised front planes and an eternal tranquillity of the whole that continues to exist despite eons, political regimes, and times of economic exploitation. In specific segments we are given information on the consequences of the consequences of tourism, and the devastating effects of domicile 'entrepreneurs" intervention, where they are prepared to sacrifice the landscape with no care for what the final price might be. This is inevitably paid in full by the local community.

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As in some other sequels that have come to be after long hikes around desolate places, which she always chooses for an understandable and appropriate reason, Ana Opalić leaves to the spectator a sort of option making opportunity  which perspective to choose, when viewing the work, if none other besides. Being socially aware and dedicated to topics involving the wider scope of the community, she has exposed the audience of the Gradac gallery to scenery the already know.

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These consist of layers of history, 'pregnant history' as many refer to them.

Waiting plays a key role in these scenes as a wait for a decisive photographer's angle that will transform the circumstances shot to viewers who have never thought of or about them enough..."

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Sandra Križić Roban for www.croatian-photography.com