Jaksic Stonemasonry
Workshop and Gallery

Stone Planters on the Sutivan Promenade / project author Dr.art. Dina Jakšić Pavasović

- the stone planters in Sutivan, placed along the seafront promenade, represent a unique example of combining landscape architecture, spatial design, and educational content. This complex project, authored by Dr.art. Dina Jakšić Pavasović, was designed to enhance the public space by interpreting the fishing and maritime heritage of the island of Brač and the Adriatic Sea. Each planter is made of local Brač stone and symbolically represents one fish species, its natural habitat (marine algae), and the traditional fishing tool historically used to catch it. The surfaces are relief-carved with stylised details of fishing tools, while the lower parts are sculpted along the planter’s base in the form of silhouettes of specific algae. Thanks to carefully planned lighting, light passes through these silhouettes, highlighting the internal shapes and projecting shadow reflections onto the ground. The upper line of the planters continues fluidly from one to the next and gradually changes as one moves closer to the sea. At the beginning of the promenade, the line is gently wavy, representing shallow coastal waters. As the path continues, the line becomes increasingly undulating, evoking the sensation of entering deeper, open sea with larger waves. Accordingly, fish species and algae are arranged from shallow-water varieties near the beginning to those from deeper marine zones. The entire project was overseen by biologist Dr. Nika Ugrin, adding both expert and scientific depth to the endeavour. The texts about fish, featured on the side panels of the planters, are her original work. Each text includes a description of the fish species, the fishing tool traditionally used to catch it, and the type of algae in which the fish typically resides. Thanks to Dr. Ugrin’s involvement, the project gained a higher level of professionalism and scientific credibility in all its aspects. This project combines design, heritage, and environmental awareness, creating an educational and touristic installation that celebrates marine biodiversity and raises awareness about its preservation. The project was entirely financed through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014–2020, via the Local Action Group for Fisheries (FLAG) of the island of Brač.