Perfection of Evolution – REVEALING

Perfection of Evolution – REVEALING

20 April – 5 May 2022
Small Hall, Prica Gallery, Samobor Public Open University

The exhibition “Perfection of Evolution – REVEALING” presents a unique dialogue between the living and non-living worlds through the comparison of beetles from the valuable Mikšić Collection and minerals from the collections of the Croatian Natural History Museum.

Originally opened in 2016 to mark the 30th anniversary of the merger of the Croatian National Zoological Museum, the Mineralogical-Petrographic Museum, and the Geological-Palaeontological Museum into the Croatian Natural History Museum, the exhibition introduced the public to one of the museum’s most valuable entomological collections – the Mikšić Beetle Collection.

The exhibition authors, Dr Iva Mihoci, Dr Vlatka Mičetić Stanković, Dr Ivan Razum, and Dragan Bukovec, paired beetle specimens with minerals and rocks whose colours, patterns, shapes, and surface textures closely resemble one another, highlighting the interconnectedness of the living and non-living world.

Due to the sensitivity and exceptional value of the Mikšić Beetle Collection, long-term exhibition of the specimens is not possible. Therefore, in 2017 a catalogue was published featuring around one hundred photographs that document the remarkable similarities between insects and minerals.

The photographs for both the exhibition and catalogue were created by Nives Borčić, with professional support from Petar Crnčan and assistance from Višnja Lisičar, Silvana Sušić, and Marin Šoufek in preparing the mineral and rock specimens.