Jakšić Gallery was commissioned to design a stone game that artistically interprets an educational board game created within the LAGUR Brač framework. The project introduces the island of Brač to children and young people in a contemporary and accessible way, presenting its space, history, and core values. Special emphasis is placed on sustainable development and a responsible relationship with local resources.
LAG and LAGUR play an important role in the development of local communities. Through their projects, they encourage the preservation of identity, the strengthening of local knowledge, and the sustainable use of space. We recognised this approach in the educational board game itself. Our task was to translate that concept into a lasting, visually strong, and educational object made of stone.
This stone game is a unique example in which the game is not intended for direct use. Instead, it functions as a symbolic interpretation of the game and the values it conveys. The starting point for the design was the original game map—a map of Dalmatia that includes only the islands. These outlines of the Dalmatian islands were transferred into white Brač stone, a material deeply connected to the identity of the place. Stone was chosen as a local resource, but also as a symbol of durability, knowledge, and memory.
We further analysed the game’s content. We studied the questions and answers and selected terms with strong local and cultural significance. Particular emphasis was placed on expressions that are less familiar to the wider public and often exist only in local dialects. The aim was not the literal transmission of information, but the preservation of the spirit of place and language.
The stone game is shaped as a relief panel. The sea surface is formed in rhythmic waves, within which terms such as the winged lion, fumari, vitalac, bunja, and kantaduri are carved. These expressions carry historical, cultural, and everyday significance for the Dalmatian islands. They are not in the primary visual focus. Instead, they are discreetly integrated into the relief structure, as the emphasis lies not on information, but on the idea and meaning the game represents.
An important part of the process took place in our workshop in Donji Humac. There, the stone was precisely worked with great respect for the material. Every relief, every word, and every form was created with clear intent and a thoughtful approach to stone.
The result is a stone game that unites contemporary design, local heritage, and educational value. A work that preserves the history, language, and everyday life of the Dalmatian islands. Sealed in stone. Lasting. And accessible to new generations.
