The Committee
- Takes note that Serbia has nominated Naïve painting practices of Kovačica (No. 02104) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
The naïve painting practices of Kovačica, Serbia refer to the tradition of painting and decorating objects with representations of the folk life, rural environment, history and everyday lives. Practitioners are self-taught. They use oil paint in bright hues to depict traditional culture, objects, history and values. Increasingly, younger painters use modern motifs while preserving the characteristic form of the practice. Originating in the town of Kovačica in the 1930s, naïve painting spread to other towns with Slovak communities in Serbia over time. The practice is a reflection of the relationship between individuals, communities and their environment. Over time, it has gained wide national and international visibility. Traditionally, women engaged in decorating furniture, dinnerware and textiles, but over time, men began practising as well. Naïve painting is transmitted informally within families and local communities, with older community members sharing painting techniques and skills with youth. It is also transmitted through cultural institutions, exhibitions and workshops. An identifying factor, the practice is a means of transmitting the cultural heritage and history of the Slovak community in Serbia. Exhibitions are also an opportunity for the community to socialize and share traditional food, costumes, customs, music and dances, among others.
- Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
R.1: Naïve painting practices of Kovačica is transmitted informally within families and local communities, with older community members sharing painting techniques and skills with youth. It is also transmitted through cultural institutions, exhibitions and workshops. The element is important for the manifestation of various identities at personal and family levels. The motifs used represent the immediate surroundings, history and culture of Slovak communities. Naïve painting exhibitions are an opportunity for the communities concerned to socialize, show respect and gratitude to painters, and share traditional food, costumes, customs, music and dance, among others.
R.2: The element contributes to various aspects of sustainable development as follows: (a) advancing gender equality through the participation of both genders and the recognition and economic empowerment of female painters in the community; (b) contributing to inclusive economic development through the sale of products and handicrafts; and (c) promoting quality education through the development of educational programmes in schools and galleries to share knowledge about the element.
R.3: The local communities work to safeguard the element through initiatives that promote, present and transmit the related knowledge and skills. Cooperation between painters and schools, organized lectures, school work in galleries, and collaboration with libraries ensure transmission of the element within the community. The element is also promoted through programmes coordinated by the Institute for Culture of Vojvodina Slovaks and the Museum of Vojvodina Slovaks. Exhibitions, lectures and presentations are organized in cooperation with numerous cultural institutions and local government agencies throughout the country. Some galleries have initiated the digitizing of paintings and collections and established a multilingual Encyclopaedia of Slovak Naïve Art in Serbia. In order to counter any potential negative impacts resulting from inscription, education programmes will emphasize the social functions of the element as well as its contribution to the transfer and safeguarding of traditions, collective memories and identity.
R.4: Local communities work continuously to safeguard the element and promote its visibility by organizing meetings of experts and educational lectures and participating in activities at the national level. An exchange of know-how with experts took place during the preparation of the nomination file and the proposed safeguarding plan. Various letters of consent from the communities were submitted as part of the nomination file.
R.5: The element was listed on the National Register of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012. The register is maintained by the Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade. Information on the inventorying process was included in the periodic report submitted in December 2021 and examined by the Committee in December 2022.
- Decides to inscribe Naïve painting practices of Kovačica on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
- Commends the State Party for acknowledging the possible negative impacts of the element’s inscription and for proposing appropriate safeguarding measures to prevent over-commercialization.