IDIOT'S STONE

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„Idiot's stone“ - This work is about destruction and disregard of the cultural heritage, not only on the peninsula where I live, but often in the entire country.

Although there have been numerous findings all over the peninsula of 348 square kilometers, many places with big potential are left to be grown in weeds or terrains leveled without fro building any previous research.

By casting a piece of the tumulus – on site (after protecting a wide area around the space where I'll make the cast and without leaving any garbage or a drop of plaster and is left as it was) I'm talking about a particular Illyrian grave, which could be hiding a great number of artifacts, and I point it out by melting a few rhytons in the cast.

Rhyton to which I was refering to was a part of Danilo culture ,but also inspired by other ceramics from Croatia’s territory and the Illyrian ornaments.Rhyton - a container from which fluids were intended to be drun or to be poured during some sacred ceremony. Mainly produced over large areas of ancient Eurasia, from Persia to Balkans.

This one belongs to Danilo culture (Neolithic culture of Dalmatian coast of Croatia and parts pf Bosnia), dating to 4700-3900 BC.There are two associated pottery styles; painted black and broad red on buff ware, and incised on dark burnished ware (therefore I used clay, to which apple cider vinegar has a strong, invasive effect), belonging to Middle Neolithic.

The geometric designs suggest connections with wares in Italy.

This particular piece inspired author from Sibenik (Croatia) Omer Rak, to write a book "Danilski riton" (Danilo rhyton) that brings together a number pf research documents.

The name is taken after the famous alche

mical substance that turns base metals into gold – mythological philosopher’s stone. However, the substance that could have been found here would, for example, be idiot’s stone – as the heritage of ancient civilizations (who have, by all the evidence, occupied the peninsula) is magically turned into apartments and cafes/bars/hotels…

This cast of the stone (from a place that was sacred 2000 years ago) displays idiot’s power of decaying culture.

This is the era of knowledge – which is available for everyone, and ignorance is no excuse for destruction.