Building of the Kupa bonfire in Karlovac 2017

Curator: Alfred Freddy Krupa’s black and white photograph, “Building of the Kupa bonfire in Karlovac,” from 2017, presents an intriguing scene on a riverbank. Editor: Whoa, this shot has a beautifully melancholic vibe. The way the light plays on the water and those stacked pallets—it's oddly serene, but with this undertone of, I don’t know, something epic about to happen? Curator: Indeed. The photograph captures the preparatory stages of the traditional Kupa bonfire, an event deeply embedded in local customs and linked to seasonal festivals. The monochrome palette strips away immediate distractions, allowing us to focus on the human endeavor of construction set against the backdrop of Karlovac. This juxtaposition immediately made me think of issues of community, tradition, and labor, specifically as those issues relate to place. Editor: Right, I totally get that feeling. There's something really tactile about those rough wooden pallets too; the textures just pop in black and white. I wonder about the folks building it—are they thinking about the history, the community thing, or just the practical puzzle of stacking all those pieces? Curator: I suspect both are at play. The act of building here becomes a symbolic gesture, almost a collective performance steeped in historical significance. We must consider the social function of these gatherings, serving as a reminder of shared identities. Editor: Yeah, I can see that. It's more than just a bonfire, it's like they’re literally building a sense of belonging right there on the riverbank. And that cityscape in the background feels like it is a symbol of everything this ritual protects itself from. The soft monochrome of the photograph lends itself to the construction of a time capsule. Curator: Precisely. The act of photographing becomes another intervention into a socio-cultural fabric. This is no snapshot, it’s an essay on transition. Editor: I’m walking away with an echo of childhood summer nights…the smell of smoke, a little rebellious energy. Maybe this artist has pulled something timeless out of what seems like just another city scene. Curator: Yes, it is about a place. A people. And also about the lens through which these concepts intersect. It really allows us to consider continuity amidst constant change, right?