As you said, Mijo Kovacic, who recently celebrated 75-anniversary of his life (born 5 August 1935).. With John Večenaj - Tišlarova, the last living painter who gained international fame in the naive art. He began to paint on glass, like most before him. The advice given to him by John Generalić. One day, when he heard of this great painter from the Upper Forest (near Molve) where he lived and where he still lives, otpješaćio is ten kilometers away Hlebine and met with Generalić. Today he says that this is not "God knows" how much help, but that he still had support for further work. Educated as a carpenter. However, in the first class had left the profession because it concluded that there should be a lot of work, and that little profit. He used his enormous talent for painting and drawing. He began to work intensively in time, and from his studio, that 'someone' well said, set off an avalanche of big and small picture, with a multitude of characters in a playful crowd of people in the phantasmagoric atmospheres molvarskog poor region live along the river to overflow and destroy all their hard work .
When we visited him recently at his home in the Upper Forest, on the occasion stand "43 minutes with ...", greeted us was surrounded by many paintings dominated by a mystical forest landscapes, with many farmers who do something, or something expected. In his paintings can be seen and some unusual animals: turtles, frogs, snakes and strange birds .. All in all, a variety of topics, but it is very distinctive style Mijo Kovacic, whose works can be identified, not to read the author's name. Meeting with this classic of Croatian naive art will be held in Tuesday, the 21st September in 19 hours in Podravkinoj Cinema Hall (admission free). Organization Tribune''43 minutes with the Association ...'' veterans, invalids and war widows Podravka (UBIUDR) and the Croatian branch of Matica. For flowering Naive Art is very responsible and Podravka. Her leadership, headed by Paul Gaži was often a tool to promote naive art, not only moral but also financial support. Galleries in Hlebine, where the annex John Generalića, surely it would not be, without any help and by Podravka. In addition, Podravka has organized a series of cultural activities, and always called us as guests - said Kovacic.
The Podravka commercial buildings for years and has been called. "Room rooster. Renovation of some parts of the building, this room is simply "removed", because most likely did not fit into a new, modern concept. Given that in this room, among other things, exposed the big picture Kovacic "rooster", we asked the authors to look at it today? It was an excellent idea, "said Mijo. People came in Podravka only because they wanted to see our pictures, our rooster. A picture on the topic of "rooster" there were exhibited the most famous painters from naive Podravine. I heard that the "rooster" today somewhere in a warehouse depot. I think they should be "let out" that people look at them. These paintings, all large format, occasionally be exposed in other areas. So, I appeal to the new Podravka's management to let the rooster - the "freedom". A little joking, but it was so. In Koprivnica traditionally held fair naive. Painters exhibit their works in the square. How is it like a classic Naive art, as you are?
- Listen, I have nothing against it. At this event, how I managed to see, mainly exhibit and sell their images Podravski amateurs. It's nice to deal with painting, which was to the hobby. Something earnings. However, we do not like what most of the images resemble one another, or that copy, or better said, crossing out what we have long narisali.
Anyone can master the technique, as anyone can overwrite someone else's novel. It's much harder to paint or write something of his. I would therefore recommend, especially youth, are already beginning to move some of its road, and not waste time painting in a way that makes most of the painter, said Mijo Kovacic. Kovacic for his work won numerous awards and prizes. He has exhibited in many countries around the world. For example, under the impression that the Japanese were much more interested in the Croatians than the naive painters. Has long been naive art in the background. A naive of us could be used for the propagation of Croatian art. I do not know why I have made to our academy painters and still so jealous? Some of us can think of. In any case I ended up at the Academy of Fine Arts today, I certainly would not be such an artist with such works. The school would be dragged me to another side - said Mijo, who remained always the same: a low-charged oddity wide brim hat, a man who spoke little, and that during his long artistic career, and made many valuable works, which have outgrown the phenomenon naive.
Panel announced in Podravka will be just another opportunity to better meet the work and the work of this great painter of the world.
Mladen Pavkovic
Humanitarni dio Fešte od rajčica koja se tradicionalno organizira u Umagu uvijek budi pozitivne emocije. Posjetitelji rado kupuju porcije jela pripremljenih s tjesteninom i Podravkinim proizvodima od rajčice, jer znaju da će uz uživanje u dobrom okusu pomoći plemenitu akciju. 
