Inspired by the story of Jacinta Kunić, Dijana Sindik Mokka composed the song PONTI.
2021
"PONTI"
Klapa Tamarin
Lyrics and music - DS Mokka
Editing - Vicko Dragojevic
On the second evening of the XX International Klapa Festival, in Perast, the song 'Ponti' was premiered, inspired by the character and work of Jacinta Kunić, who, waiting for her husband, a sailor, embroidered tapestry for 25 years (1803-1828), using various materials. ... Japanese silk, multicolored Chinese silk, damask, pearls, silver and gold threads ... He puts his own hair on the heads of angels, Our Lady and Jesus. She worked with a needle, under a magnifying glass, and in some places, on a square centimeter, she has about 650 needle stitches, hence the professional name - Punto pittura.The song was performed by the klapa Tamarin, from Solin, one of the oldest women's klapas in Croatia.
From the angle of a Perast woman: Tapestry - a symbol of love
Every love is special in its own way and each has its own story.Do you know what is so special about the island of Our Lady of Skrpjela in front of Perast? Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the island during the season, remain enchanted by the rich history and beauty of the place, and perhaps most delighted by one old tapestry and a story that is true but also sad.
Throughout its rich history, Perast has produced a large number of important personalities, among them many sailors and captains.Sailing the mighty seas of the world, they earned their bread hard, but none of it would have been so hard for them because they knew that beautiful and faithful wives and girlfriends were waiting for them at home. Each of them spent time in their own way, waiting for the darling to return home. Some raised children, some prayed for their husbands to return alive from the journey, some made the famous Peraška cake. And some, as the main heroine of this story, embroidered tapestries.
In this work she weaved her faith, hope, expectations. She showed great patience and ability and left a symbol of one love. When, in 1803, her husband (a sailor) went on a long journey, Jacinta began to tie this famous tapestry, not even imagining that the story of it would travel all over the world. The tapestry is interwoven with golden and silver threads, with the image of the Mother of God and Jesus Christ. For her masterpiece, Jacinta used seven different materials on a Japanese silk backing. As a canvas, she used the then highly sought-after damask. Apart from the Mother of God and Jesus Christ, seven little angels are seen on the tapestry. Their hair was embroidered by Jacinta from her own hair, when she presumably ran out of material. Jacinta's hair was initially brown, with time it changed color (brown, yellow, gray), which can be seen in the figures of angels.
Considering that the tapestry was made of rare and expensive materials, which were impossible to buy not only in Boka, but in the whole of Montenegro, it is assumed that the sailor sent them to Jacinta from the "whoite" world, at least for a while. By its perfection and beauty, as well as the story it carries with it, this tapestry leaves no one indifferent. At the same time, it shows us how sincere, strong and great the loves in Boka used to be. Or are they not?
In any case, one of the most beautiful handicrafts in Boka and beyond, is proudly kept on Our Lady and will surely forever remain in the hearts of all guests who come here from all over the world.Maybe this story imagines us a little and teaches us something. Maybe we can learn a life lesson from it. Certainly after this story we forever admire the great loyalty and patience of one woman."A woman was waiting…"
The artificial island was made at the end of the fifteenth century, when, according to legend, the Mortešić brothers found a picture of Our Lady on a cliff in Risan Bay on July 22. In 1452, the people of Perast decided to build an Orthodox church of the Mother of God on that place. Stones were thrown around the cliffs and a small chapel was built.In today's church, which was built by the Venetians in 1630, there is a tapestry embroidered by Jacinta Kunić from Perast from 1803 to 1828, waiting for her sailor husband. It is a unique work that she made from her own hair.
