On Friday, 19 September, the second day of the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge continued with a diverse and engaging program that connected contemporary literature with broader social and ecological themes. Renowned scholar and author Heather Laird delivered a lecture titled Leave as Little Trace as Possible: Ethical Non-Consumption in Contemporary Irish Women’s Writing, offering an important reflection on ethical consumption in contemporary Irish literature and on women writers who use their work to inspire social responsibility.
“Portraying motherhood in literature remains a challenge for authors,” Laird noted. “Writers still search for ways to present motherhood in all its complexity and reality, while mother figures often remain under the weight of collective social and political pressures.” She emphasized that literature frequently reflects an idealized or simplified version of this experience, calling for deeper and more authentic depictions of motherhood that challenge stereotypes and give voice to marginalized women’s experiences.
Heather Laird (by the wall) and the audience
This was followed by the presentation of Marko Gregur’s novel Ekspozicija tame (Exposure of Darkness), moderated by writer Danijela Crljen. The novel traces the story of a blind narrator through turbulent times and dark memories of a small Podravina town, exploring themes of war, identity, and historical upheavals with stylistic precision and poetic richness. Reflecting on truth and credibility in literature, Crljen remarked: “When presenting historical facts, even the smallest falsehood can undermine the truth. But in literature, even the smallest fragment of truth can make readers believe everything you write.” Gregur connected this to perceptions of identity: “What we are in the eyes of others, that we are,” adding, “As a reader, I’m not interested in whether a story is only warm; I am interested in different worlds. Literature is art, and it must above all be good.” In his novel, Gregur explores how subjective perception, evil, and war shape individuals and communities, concluding: “It’s easier to meddle with the past than with the future.” Thus, Ekspozicija tame becomes not only a chronicle of one place and time, but also a deeper reflection on language, identity, and the power of literature to illuminate universal themes through individual truth.
Danijela Crljen and Marko Gregur
Danijela Crljen and Marko Gregur
The afternoon continued with readings by contemporary Irish authors: Catriona Shine, author of Habitat, which methodically explores exile and identity; Colin Walsh, an award-winning debut novelist known for sharp and stylistically intricate narratives, who presented his novel Kala; and Martina Devlin, an acclaimed journalist and the author of twelve books, who intertwines historical motifs with contemporary social issues and read from her novel Charlotte, a fictional portrayal of the life of Charlotte Brontë.
Catriona Shine, Martina Devlin and Colin Walsh
The day was further marked by the symbolic planting of a carob tree in Đorđić-Mayneri Park, where participants expressed lasting ties to Lopud and left a permanent symbol of solidarity and commitment to both the literary and island community. The second day culminated in the presentation of Drvo, in which Staša Aras and Zlatan Stipišić Gibonni introduced a unique literary collage of stories inspired by Gibonni’s songs, offering a deeply emotional and poetic experience of regional culture and connecting music and literature in an original way.
Gibonni planting a carab tree
Reflecting on his creative process and the nature of song, Gibonni emphasized that spontaneity is what gives music intimacy and authenticity: “As I stand on both sides of the stage, when you write music you are spontaneous, you play; maybe it’s the child in you because you are accountable to no one but your emotions. But when you articulate something, when you write, it also reflects experience. I can’t separate the two. You meet your reflection in the mirror, but that reflection isn’t you, it’s the reflection of your songs.” He added that songs have always had a visual dimension for him: “Before it became video art, a song was for all of us a small private canvas, a little cinema in the heart or the mind. Everyone experienced a song in their own way. So this is, as much as it is new, also something ancient.”
Gibonni and Staša Aras presenting the book Drvo (Tree)
Gibonni giving autographs
The final festival day will take place in the Rector’s Palace, beginning with the workshop Mining Memories led by Cauvery Madhavan, followed by readings by Wendy Erskine and Dorta Jagić. A panel discussion on the responsibility and role of authors in political trends will feature Shane Tivenan, Seid Serdarević, Danijela Crljen, and Marko Gregur, moderated by Srđan Sandić. The day will conclude with the launch of Jurica Pavičić’s new novel Usta puna mora (A Mouthful of Sea), moderated by Staša Aras, and the traditional performance of Irish poet Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin Ní Bheoláin at Hotel Glavović.
Admission to all events is free, and the organisers invite everyone to join this literary gathering, which fosters cultural development and the building of creative communities.
The Ponta Lopud Creative Platform hosts three major summer cultural programmes in 2025, welcoming all those passionate about the arts – especially film, music, and literature. The season began with the Ponta Lopud Film Festival, held from 26 to 28 June in celebration of cinematic art. The second event, the beloved Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, brought music lovers to the island from 28 to 30 August. The season concludes with Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, from 18 to 20 September, transforming Lopud into a literary haven and closing out a summer of unforgettable cultural moments.
