Maja Baric

Maja Barić, a painter and graphic artist, with twenty years of experience as an art gallery manager and director of the City Museum in Ilok in Croatia, participated in the International Art Meet 2025 at Pilani, in indian province Rajasthan, from November 2nd to 10th, 2025. at the invitation of artists from India
.

The International Art Meet was held at the Birla Balika Vidyapeeth School, with the support of the Birla Education Trust, Pilani and in collaboration with Dimension 4, a non-profit organization.

On the occasion of the opening of the exhibition of selected artworks, created at International Art Meets over the last decade, on April 8, 2026 I talked with artist Maja Barić, two of whose paintings are on display at that exhibition. The exhibition was held under the title The Art of Convergence at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, in Kolkata, from April 7 to 12, 2026. The curator of the exhibition is Babita Das, the artist who invited Maja Barić to participate to the International Art Meet in India.

Maja Barić expresses her impressions ftom India in one sentence: “It is a life experience to visit India, but in this way, as an artist”.

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Two of yours artworks have been selected for the big exhibition The Art of Convergence in Calcutta. They were created at International Art Meet 2025 at Pilani, in the Indian province of Rajasthan. Could you tell us how did your participation in the Art Meet in India come about?”

Maja Baric: “During my stay in Seoul in South Korea in 2017, on the occasion of my participationio at exhibition organized by ICAA (International Creative Artists Association) and WCAA (World CultureArtists Association), I met artist Babita Das. She is an artist and graphic designer and curator of the exhibition The Art of Convergence.

That is the beautiful side of connecting artists in international collaborations, not only do you get to know each other through sharing artistic creative work, but you also gain friendships.

These kind of friendships are wonderful because they are free from the pressures usually associated with domestic markets where you treat your colleagues as competitors. And these are more joyful and happier relationships and that’s how we connected. She and her husband contacted me a year ago, in the spring of 2025, with the news that she would organize 10th Art Meet in Rajasthan in Pilani and another in Bhubaneswar in Odisha and invited me to participate. I participated only in Pilani. My fifteen-year-old son was with me, also as a participant. He has already won two awards as a young artist, one in Seoul at the World Youth Festival and one at the International Art Competition. He painted in Pilani and left two of his artworks as a donation. We stayed in India from November 2nd to 10th, 2025. At the very beginning, we had a ceremonial inauguration. We were placed at the Birla Balika Vidyapeeth girls’ school. It is a boarding school for girls, a large, elite educational center belonging to the Birla Education Trust Pilani. The school had a special dimension at the International Art Meet.

Jasna Lovrinčević: “The School Birla Balika Vidyapeeth has hosted the International Art Meet for ten years. Could you tell us more about a School as an important part of the gathering of artists from all over the world? What are the goals of the International Art Meet and what is the role of the School itself?”

Maja Baric: “The School itself is not just a venue for the Art Meet, but an active participant in creating an atmosphere of dialogue, creativity and international networking. As one of the most prestigious educational institutions in India, Birla Balika Vidyapeeth is known for nurturing education that connects knowledge, art, culture and humanistic values. Because of this approach to education, the school represents an ideal environment for an artistic meeting that promotes mutual understanding and cultural exchange.

The goal of the International Art Meet is to connect artists from all over the world through joint creative work, exchange of experiences and presentation of different artistic traditions. A joint exhibition is an important professional form of presenting artists, allowing the audience to get close look to contemporary art practices of different cultures and creating new international collaborations and friendships through art.”

Life Experience

Jasna Lovrincevic: “What is your experience from that artists’ gathering?”

Maja Barić: “It is really a life experience to visit India, but in this way, as an artist. I was lucky to be able to experience all of this through an artistic encounter.

Maja Baric

I would especially emphasize the importance of work with girls who are at the very beginning of their educational and professional journey. Through direct association with artists from all over the world, the school’s students gain valuable experience in international communication, creative exchange and they are getting acquainted with different cultures, artistic approaches and attitudes towards life. Meetings with artists, workshops and exhibitions give them the opportunity to directly get acquainted with contemporary art and different art expressions, but also to develop self-confidence, openness, creative thinking and a sense of belonging to a global community. Such experiences often leave a strong mark on their personal development; encourage them to express themselves freely and broaden their educational and life horizons.

My role as an artist, educator and person who has already gone through a long professional and life journey, was to transfer to them my own knowledge and experiences — to talk about the challenges, my decisions and the path along which my education and professional activities developed. This was a great honor for me, but also a responsibility. I was able to speak about all of this very honestly and openly because I have always experienced my educational and professional way with love and dedication.

My journey began in high school and then I continued my studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, where I also chose an additional teaching cours. During my professional career, I often worked with young people, especially through my work at the Museum. I did this work with great devotion, because it was vocation which enables the full use of creative potential. At the same time it also carries an important organizational and communication dimension of working with artists, cultural workers, and people who share deep values and reflect on culture and society in a serious and responsible way”.

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Could you say something about yout experience with the students?”

Maja Barić: “During those ten days, the relationship between me and these girls was completely mutuall — not only did they learn from me, but I also learned from them and from their culture. I participated in their daily activities, and I was especially touched by learning about their traditions. They dressed us in traditional clothes and painted our bodies with traditional ornaments, what was one of the most beautiful and unforgettable experiences for me.

Maja Baric

As they painted our bodies, I asked them about the meaning of these drawings and customs. I realized it is deeply rooted tradition which has accompanied girls since their earliest youth. At these moments of body painting , women of all generations gather — sisters, aunts, and friends — to paint each other. They talk and spend time together. This tradition of tenderness, closeness, and connection among women was extremely moving for me, and an experience that I will carry with me forever.”

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Do the drawings on the body stay permanently?”

Maja Baric

Maja Beric: “The paint remains on the body for about fourteen days, so they are not permanent tattoos but temporary body painting that has aesthetic but also cultural importance. They paint the skin of their faces, feet and hands using henna, a natural dye. They decorate themselves for festive occasions. Following body painting, they put on traditional clothes and the whole act becomes part of women’s decoration and preparation for the celebration.

I found it interesting how much this tradition has similarities with some elements of Croatian cultural heritage. I told them about our traditional decoration with ducats and showed them photographs, which really interested them.
In an article about our participation at International Art Meet, published by a Indian newspaper the journalists even concluded that there are certain similarities between Croatian and Indian culture and that common motifs and values can be recognized in some customs.

What particularly impressed me it was their spirituality and serenity of life. The girls start their day with music, meditation and prayer, and the whole school atmosphere is permeated with togetherness, discipline and inner peace. This combination of spirituality, education and art have made a strong impression on me.”

Combination of Discipline, Music and Togethrness

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Is the early morning music part of the school program or is it just part of everyday life at Pilani? Could you please tell us more about the school and its surroundings?”

Maja Barić: “It is part of the school program. The school has its own orchestra, drummers and brass players who play music early in the morning to wake up the students. They make impression of a small festive procession.

After that, the girls go to morning exercises and begin their daily routine. This combination of discipline, music and togethrness left a strong impression on me.

The school itself is located within a large and exceptionally well-maintained educational campus in Pilani. It looks like a small city dedicated to knowledge, culture and spirituality. The campus is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, green lawns, rows of mango and jamun trees and numerous flower alleys.

The smell of flowers can be felt already in the early morning hours. The moment before breakfast it is especially impressive when the aromas of Indian food and spices begin to spread which gives the whole place a special warmth and specific atmosphere.”

Fragrant Flowers and Desert

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Could you tell us a little more about the City of Pilani and surrounding area with desert?”

Maja Baric: “It was a truly incredible experience for me. On the one hand, there was the desert around us, and sand was everywhere, entering into everyday life and becoming a natural part of it. In the morning, women in front of their shops carefully clean the sand, as part of their daily routine.

At the same time, inside the campus and around the school there are beautiful gardens full of fragrant flowers, greenery and tree-lined streets, so the contrast between the desert and the lush vegetation was fascinating. This combination of the harsh landscape and carefully tended gardens makes a very strong impression.

Pfotograph: Maja Baric

I was especially impressed by the attitude of people towards animals. Elephants, camels, cows, bulls, monkeys, dogs and even pigs with very small pigs move freely through the streets. Some animals are harnessed and help transport people and things, while many elephants and camels are decorated with colors and ornaments. This natural presence of animals in everyday life, their freedom and peaceful coexistence with people seems almost unreal.

Pfotograph: Maja Baric

I was also fascinated by the architecture — richly decorated buildings, temples, courtyards and historic districts that preserve the spirit of tradition. We visited temples, museums and old parts of the city with family houses and villas, where you could feel the history and culture of the area. All together, it leaves the impression of a world where nature, everyday life, spirituality and tradition are constantly intertwined.”

Two Different Sides of my Artistic Expression

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Did you have free choice thema or a given theme for the painting?”

Maja Baric:” A Birla Education Trust Pilani Institution dictated the theme. The theme had an emphasis on education. Each artist shared their knowledge and experiences with their group of students. The students gathered knowledge. It was a dialogue between the students and us. There were twelve artists from different countries. At the end there was an exhibition.

Yesterday, it was the opening of the exhibition of selected artworks created at the International Art Meets since it has been organized.

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Two of your, very interesting paintings are shown at the exhibition; one as a relaxing landscape, and the other, an abstract one with the enigmatic and thought-provoking text: Changing the World? Would you like to say something about your paintings?”

Maja Baric: “These two paintings actually represent two different sides of my artistic expression and personality. The landscape is connected to my homeland and the nature that shaped me. It contains vastness, light, peace and colors that I carry in my memories and experiences of the landscapes. Through such motifs, I try to convey a sense of silence, freedom and inner peace. This work was created very intuitively and emotionally. Nature is for me, often a space to return to myself and reflect on life.

The second painting, an abstract composition with the inscription Change the World, arises from my interest in graphic design, typography and contemporary visual communication. In it, I combine layers of color, text, signs and figures in order to open up a space for reflection on man and society. The inscription should not be taken literally, but more as a question and an impetus — to what extent each of us can change the world around us through own actions.

Maja Baric

I find it interesting to combine these two worlds: on the one hand, the peace and emotions of the landscape, and on the other, the contemporary, urban and somewhat restless visual language of abstraction and design. It is through this contrast that I try to talk about the inner states of man-, about the relationship between nature and modern life, but also about the need to preserve humanity, sensitivity, and personal freedom despite everything.”

Jasna Lovrincevic: “You have recently moved from Croatia to Germany and
you have announced a course on art for next week. Could you tell us about your artistic and professional work so far?”

Maja Baric: “I exhibited in Seoul in 2017 and 2021, in Vienna in 2012 and in Iran in 2021. I organized an exhibition for three South Korean artists in Croatia at Ilok in 2015. I worked as the head of the museum’s Gallery and for ten years as the director of the Ilok City Museum. I held the position of head of the Gallery the entire time, even while I was the director of the Museum. At the same time, I worked on author programs, invited artists, wrote catalogs and had curatorial programs. That was a great pleasure for me. I currently live near Kassel and I experience this period of time, spent in Germany as a time of new artistic research and development of my own creative programs. After many years of working in culture and leading institutions, I now have more space to devote myself to my own artistic expression, education and working with people through creative workshops. After my recent participation in the International Art Meet and Exhibition in India, I am preparing new international projects, including an invitation to participate in an art program in Algeria. The development of a creative education program for young people and adults through meetings dedicated to art and visual expression is particularly important to me. In recent months, meetings have been held that have brought together those interested in contemporary approaches to painting and creative work. In addition to practical work, I plan to organize presentation about my trip to India and about my artistic and professional activities in Croatia and Germany. An exhibition of photographs taken during my stay in India is also being prepared, which should be presented in Croatia and Germany, and after that probably online to be available to a wider international audience.”