Vinko Malinarić Vinko Malinarić was born in Belgrad, a rural settlement of rich history on the slopes of Vinodol valley, after which he was named. The picturesqueness of Vinko’s home region combined with his innate sensibility to recognize and perpetuate the visual attractiveness paved the way for him to devote his life to photography.

In his work environment, where he spent nearly three decades, from 1965 until his retirement in 1992, Vinko was a modest and hard-working employee who – although frequently faced with life difficulties – persevered in giving all of himself. Despite life misfortunes, his cheerful spirit would, over a short morning discussion and coffee, almost regularly stir his colleagues and associates into action. The Rijeka Conservation Service, during Vinko’s almost three decades of work, was marked by the work of outstanding practitioners and theoretical experts, field and office workers, such as Iva Perčić (also a long-time successful Director of the Institute), Mirjana Peršić, Vesna Jenko and Katica Brusić; ethnologist Beata Gotthardi Pavlovsky; architect Sanja Borčić and others. Caring for heritage, I also went thousands of kilometres with Vinko, handling thousands of monuments and getting to know him quite well in the process. He was a man of noble character, a champion of justice and honesty, work discipline, responsibility and readiness to help his fellow workers. Moreover, he will always be remembered as a photographer whose conscientious, committed and expert work earned him exceptional public reputation. He was well versed in preparing and keeping photo documentation, actively taking part in recording, evaluating, registering and monitoring of conservation works. He was always ready for cooperation, ardently going on field visits throughout the region, personally driving for miles and miles to historical sites, instinctively recognizing cultural values, which was highly appreciated among conservation professionals. He has left an exceptionally rich collection of several thousands of conservation photographs as his legacy for future generations.

Vinko’s photographs are the language of the soul and take us where words cannot. They present, in a peculiar way, the national cultural heritage of Istria, Croatian Littoral, Kvarner islands and Gorski Kotar, perpetuating their architecture, society, customs… His photographs preserve their unique views and distinctive moments.

Life is lost in a moment, but there is some power in good people of noble spirit; they are strong even after their death, their deeds and goodness leave their mark that withstands the passage of time. That was and is our Vinko Malinarić!