Factory Becomes an Art Scene: Dubrovnik Gets Kontrapogon
The former TUP hall in Gruž has been transformed into a 300-square-meter space for contemporary art, inaugurated with an exhibition by Katarina Ivanišin.
The former TUP hall in Gruž has been transformed into a 300-square-meter space for contemporary art, inaugurated with an exhibition by Katarina Ivanišin.
As of Friday, August 7, 2026, Dubrovnik is richer for a new cultural space. In the former TUP carbon-graphite products factory in the Gruž district, Kontrapogon has opened-an exhibition space created by repurposing an industrial hall covering over 300 square meters.
The very name Kontrapogon symbolically merges the site's industrial past with its new, creative purpose-conceived as a kind of "engine" for contemporary art. The project is part of a broader initiative to transform the TUP complex into a vibrant cultural hub that aims to become a "parallel city center," offering an alternative to the offerings within the historic walls and providing space for creatives squeezed by high rental prices.
The importance of the project was underscored by the presence of Minister of Culture Nina Obuljen Koržinek at the opening.
Kontrapogon was ceremoniously opened with the exhibition "Between Traces" by academic painter Katarina Ivanišin, a Dubrovnik-born artist with an international career, born in 1975. After her schooling in Dubrovnik, Ivanišin earned her BA and MA in painting from the prestigious Royal College of Art in London, where she also taught for years.
The installation is the result of years of research into the relationship between humans and nature, comprising two series: "Same Sky" and "Passage." While "Same Sky" has already been shown in Zagreb and Milan, "Passage" is presented in a more extensive version at Kontrapogon. The artist noted that the monumentality of the new space ideally suits her large-format works, allowing them to be displayed in full force.
Curator Petra Golušić described Katarina Ivanišin's art as "very deep, sharp, and committed", emphasizing that such an expression is perfect for the industrial character of the new space. The opening of a venue that blends industrial heritage with Dubrovnik's creative prospects carries special weight due to the artist's connection to her hometown, where she also worked as a museum educator.
City representatives highlighted the vision of TUP as a socio-cultural incubator that enriches the city's offerings. Following this exhibition, Kontrapogon has already announced guest appearances by the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum, and there are plans to house a branch of the city library, further strengthening the complex's role as a new social hub.
