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From traditional to contemporary Millennial tradition in mosaic arts is inherited in Croatian lands (especially in Dalmatia and Istria) where ancient Greeks, Romans and after that Byzantines made many mosaic works that are now on the list of World Heritage Sites. During the Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance we can't find important traces of mosaic production until late 19th century, when the craft is reintroduced in classicistic and academic forms. At that time mosaics took places on church facades and interiors and also some tombstones. These are only reminders on former arts of mosaics, "dead mottled scenery" without artistic expression. Not until middle of 20 Th ct. there is significant mosaic art culture in Croatia, when some prominent artists started their work. Based on their painting skills they produced some cartons for mosaics which have good chances to become highly valorised by art history critics. We may stress the names of Jozo Kljaković, Joko Knežević, Ivo Dulčić, Djuro Seder, Josip Bifel and Edo Murtić. The beginning of modern mosaic art is related to J. Kljaković (1889 - 1969) which

fig. 1 Christ-the Prince of Peace 600 x 550 cm, 1944

fig. 2 The Baptism of Croats 600 x 550 cm, 1961

was well-known as a fresco painter received an order to produce cartons for the frescoes on the facade of the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome in Rome. According to the memoirs of the artist, he changed his mind: „Then I thought that these frescoes have to be exposed to sun, wind, rain, sand and everything, I thought I always wanted to bring these images into a mosaic, noble and durable material that can withstand disasters in each field. “Three large mosaic panels on the topic of Croatian history: Christ-the Prince of Peace (fig. 1), the Baptism of Croats (fig. 2), Coronation of King Zvonimir (fig. 3), were executed in the Vatican Study of the mosaics in the period from 1944 to1961.

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fig. 3 Coronation of King Zvonimir 600 x 550 cm, 1961 Joko Knežević (1907 - 1988) was a former student of prof. Kljaković who became famous for creating especially portrait mosaic (fig. 4). His expressive portraits made of natural materials using a narrowed range of colours (fig. 5).

fig.4 Self-portrait with mother 1952 fig. 5 painter Mario Mikulić, 1976

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Sensibility like him was a painter Ivo Dulčić (1916 - 1975) - "Croatian El Greco" - as it is called by German art criticism. He made numerous mosaic cartons for the

fig. 7 Blessed Augustin Kažotić 307x200 cm1972 fig. 8 Station of the Cross 1974

fig. 9 Station of the Cross 1974

many glass mosaics now found in Catholic churches in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Germany. His dist-inctive style mosaic inspired by the classic Roman mosaics of the kind found in the chapel of St. Venantius and in Sta Maria Maggiore Basilica.The best effe-cts are mirrored on mosaics occurred in the seventies of the last century: Blessed Augustin Kažotić (1972) in the Monastery of St. Dominic Dubrovnik (fig. 7) and the Stations of the Cross inthe St. George's church. (fig. 8 and fig. 9) in Brusje (island Hvar,1974).

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Djuro Seder (1927) is a painter of secular and biblical motifs, strong colourist with expressive utterance. As a famous artist on biblical subjects tested a variety of paintings techniques including the mosaic. One of the numerous works was apsidal mosaic (multicoloured smalti) "Lady's triptych" (fig. 10) located in the Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brestovsko (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

fig. 10 Lady's triptych 360 x 710 cm 1991 Brestovsko (Bosna and Herzegovina)

Josip Bifel (1933) is another painter who also worked in the mosaic of huge format and made it successfully (fig.11). In Makarska (Dalmatia) has made a huge

fig. 11 Christ the redeemer 104m2 2000

mosaic of approximately 104m2 of multicoloured smalti which is well incorporated in the old architecture of the Franciscan church Asumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the apse is a magnificent mosaic that shows Christ, God's creative wisdom, and his own gift of life to those embrace it (in a row are Croatian saints, the blessed and ordinary believers (fig. 12). All of these examples are related and are given in the architectural milieu.

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fig. 12 Makarska Church Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Croatian Saints

The most progress on mosaic field - in architectural terms made famous painter Edo Murtić (1921 - 2005). He sets the mosaics in urban landscapes on both sides con-crete panels of large dimensions (fig. 13). A good example of this mosaic (fig. 14) is located in the courtyard of an elementary school in Zagreb (Gajnice). Mosaic panels are made of different materials: natural, industrial mosaic, ceramics, gres and smalti.

fig. 13 front panel 420 x 300 cm 1971 fig. 14 rear panel 420 x 300 cm/ 1971

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If anyone can be "grateful to mosaic memory" then these are two artists with different expressions, but connects them mosaic set by their art. The first was Julije Knifer and another Miroslav Šutej. Painter Knifer which is not only Croatian famous

fig. 15 Untitled oil on canvas 40 x 70 cm 1963

fig. 16 Station Jean Jaurès du métro de Toulouse mural 2. 05 x 2. 80 x 0.20 m 2004 Miroslav Šutej (1936 - 2005) artist who gained worldwide fame with „Bombartment of the Optic Nerve, II “- now in MOMA - New York (fig. 17) Accepting op art and experimentation with optical illusions inspired by antique monochrome mosaics resulted in new art form (fig. 18). The technique serigraphs as a precursor to digital printing, created new volumes and spaces across modules (reliefs) blown into space and become objects or installations.

but also French artist (1924 - 2004) known by meanders(fig.15).By us-ing monotone rhythms and the intense cont-rasts of black and white, he resisted the criteria of the modernity. Knifer used this consciously chosen formal expre-ssion stoically from 1960 until his death in 2004 (fig 16).

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fig.17 MOMA New York, Bombardment of the Optic Nerve II /tempera,pencil/canavs 200,5 cm Ø/1963

fig. 18 Panorama for left and right eye /wood,lacquer,polycolor 122x 220 cm MSU Zagreb/ 1966

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Digital printing and incorporation of the "new and old art" has reflected in the works of artist Robert Šimrak (1967). In his works shown the twilight zone of civilization symbolically and almost cinematic view "corporate domes and minarets of" big oil companies (fig. 19 Celestial structures 3 /digital print on canavs 170 x 120 cm/ 2004 and fig.20 Celestial structures 8/digital print on canavs 120 x 170cm/ 2004).

fig.19 Celestial structures 3 fig. 20 Celestial structures 8 In one hundred years of Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, finally in the year 2000 was mosaic established in education process. The students are educated for restoration and copping antic mosaic as well as for producing originals in various techniques. In 2013 years former students gathered around prof. Milun Garčević founded the Croatian Association of Modern mosaic (HUMM). Young artist’s made completely original mosaics - we can find different styles and trends. Mosaics of these young artists can, depending on the sensitivity and mode of implementation divided into: two-dimensional, relief, mosaic sculptures and digital. Everyone shared to use mostly natural materials, various stones, bricks, pebbles, marble, and granite, with decent "pointing" with multicoloured smalti. Above all artists for themselves draw sketches for mosaic and after that selecting the materials. The techniques of execution (method) is mainly direct, indirect less, and great attention is focused on the technology and performance which are increasingly using modern binders, adhesives, resins and so on. It should be noted that these mosaics were made inappropriately and are completely independent of architecture, although "crying out" for suitable spaces. Graphic style is particularly popular as an artistic expression, so it is not surprise

fig. 21 Nugget echo 2007

ing that a large number of young artists opted for this style. A good example is Luke Petrač who prefers the graphic style in art of mosaic. His motives were good blend of abstract and symbolic, built refined symbiosis (fig. 21 Nugget echo /natural stone smalti 50 x 65 cm/ 2007). All is well weighed, glossy smalti vibrate on mat background (fig 22 Tabernacle /marble, natural stone, smalti, 45 x 45 cm/ 2008). He used smalti stingy, but decently, enough that

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emphasizes individual vibrations in a counterpoint manner. The classical approach to the mosaic and the use of the direct method is not hampered by a young artist, he released - Artist is free in the mosaic (fig. 23 Confessional /marble, smalti, slate, pebble 50 x 85 cm/ 2011).

fig. 22 Tabernacle 2008 fig. 23 Confessional 2011 It would be unfair not to mention another young artist - Ante Teskera. It supplements the art of M.Šutej and is well-known for making mosaics of ceramic tiles

fig. 24 Disassembly /ceramic tiles 50 x 100 cm diptych/ 2009 In his mosaics frequent motif is a circle as a symbol of perfection, unity of matter and spirit, the flow of time and cosmic sky (fig. 24). Hermeticism in artistic expression given to compare with Archimedes saying: „Noli turbare circulus meos". He refined and patiently builds a mosaic-like composition in opus palladianum and in opus incertum technique. Ceramic-like material was used discreetly and somehow grudgingly (fig. 25 Meeting /50 x 50 cm ceramic tiles/ 2009). We can observe the main features of materials: brittleness, fragility, roughness, smoothness, gloss and matte as well as the sharpness of tile edges. (fig. 26 Question /50 x 50 cm ceramic tiles/ 2009).

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fig. 25 Meeting 2009 fig. 26 Question 2009 Application of the mosaic in the manner of relief in the form of sculptures all frequent. Coming young talented artists like: Maroje Batić (fig. 27), Ivanka Duvnjak (fig. 28), Ana Divković (fig, 29), Ivan Bošnjak (fig. 30), Barbara Salaj (fig. 31), Dinjaški Petra (fig 32), Martina Kamenečki (fig. 33), Martina Vukasović (fig. 34), Anatolii Chernavsky (fig. 35), Ozren Kecerin (fig. 36), Matija Blažičko (fig. 37), Petra Kovačević (fig. 38) and Martina Vrbljanin (fig 39).

fig. 27 Maroje Batić (1987) Pompeii /granite, marble, terracotta 48 x 98 cm/ 2013

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fig. 28 Ivanka Duvnjak Light 2009 fig.29 Ana Divković Colorful plant 2009

fig. 30 Ivan Bošnjak (1985) Evolution /marble, 75x190x50 cm / 2009 Mosaic remained worthy of admiration and respect, a great mystery accessible only to a lesser number of artists. For one a painstaking process, for other a play, for another a passion, but never created without much faith and patience. With its language, symbols and expressive power, it draws together traditions of numerous people; various civilizations, cultures and religions. This ancient art shall last until the last tessera is layed in the great mosaic composition of the all-encompassing human creative endeavour.

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fig. 31 Barbara Salaj 2010 fig. 32 Petra Dinjaški Game 2007

fig. 33 Martina Kamenečki Planet X 2014 fig. 34 Martina Vukasović Isis 2012

fig. 35 Anatolii Chernavsky 2013 fig. 36 Ozren Kecerin Nude 3013 fig. 37 Matija Blažičko 2012

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fig. 38 Petra Kovaćević (1989) Peacock pride /marble, smalti 69 x 92 cm/ 2012

fig. 39 Martina Vrbljanin (1992) Star tortoise /gravel,smalti,marble 53x3x19 cm/ 2013 Milun Garčević, prof. Academy of Fine Arts University of Zagreb m_garcevic@yahoo.com