In 2020 I was invited by women's rights organization Domine to paint a mural as a part of the second edition of their Mediterranean Women's Festival. Their main goal was to bring women figures of historical importance into the city's public space. Their initiative started from the fact that Split didn't have any streets, squares or other form of public space named after a woman.

This mural portrays Palmina Piplović, local anti-fascist hero and her story. By her right side I placed a crow representing wisdom, and by her left side a white dove for grace and peace. They each hold one of her cut off braids – the only remains of her, kept by her family. Above her are countless stars celebrating her enormous courage, her willingness to stand for what is right even in the face of horrific pain, torture and eventually death.

Palmina was a young woman who during World War II and the German occupation of Split joined the resistance and was helping German soldiers escape and join the resistance. Right before the end of the war she was caught and imprisoned. She was brutally tortured but didn’t give away names of any of her comrades. She was hanged October 10th 1944. She was only 22.

For years her family and several groups of local activists were demanding that local government acknowledges Palmina’s heroism and existence. Furthermore, there is a kindergarten which was initially named after Palmina, built on the property that Piplović family donated to the city. However, at some point the name was changed, therefore they were also requesting that the name should be restored. But these requests were constantly denied. This mural was the first public recognition of Palmina Piplović and her story. Few years later the kindergarten’s name was changed back to “Palmina”.

Photos by Nikola Radovani.