activities
murals
CROATIAN MURAL
Mural: The Forest of Little Wonders
Locations:- KBC Sestre milosrdnice – Clinic for Tumors, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology with the Day Hospital “Mladen Ćepulić” – leased by the Zagreb Children’s Hospital, Croatia / 3rd floor
- Zagreb Children’s Hospital, Croatia / Emergency Department – ground floor
- ISUL University Hospital “Queen Ioanna”, Sofia, Bulgaria / Opposite the entrance of the Clinic of Paediatric Clinical Haematology and Oncology
- Dona Estefânia Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal / Emergency Department waiting area
Artist: Melinda Šefčić
Collaborators in mural creation: djeca iz Kuće sv. Franje Caritasa Zagrebačke nadbiskupije u Vugrovcu, SOS Dječje selo Lekenik, OŠ Ivan Gundulić i dječjeg vrtića Krijesnice
Project partners: New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria); Universidade Lusófona / Cofac (Portugal); Zagreb Children’s Hospital; KBC Sestre milosrdnice; ISUL University Hospital “Queen Ioanna”, Sofia, Bulgaria; Dona Estefânia Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal; SOS Children’s Village Lekenik; House of St. Francis, Caritas of the Archdiocese of Zagreb in Vugrovec; Ivan Gundulić Elementary School; Krijesnice Kindergarten
Year: 2025
Description:The Forest of Little Wonders is a collaborative work by artist Melinda Šefčić and children from the House of St. Francis, Caritas of the Archdiocese of Zagreb in Vugrovec, SOS Children’s Village Lekenik, Krijesnice Kindergarten, and Ivan Gundulić Elementary School. Melinda created a rich, layered background resembling a forest that spreads in waves of greenery, playing with light, leaves, and floral shapes flowing into each other like a gentle, natural rhythm. Into this densely interwoven forest, children’s playful creativity gently entered, forming animals and beings born from imagination — colorful birds, unusual turtles, insects, and small forest creatures that seem to pause among the treetops, observing, rustling, and carrying their quiet stories. Their drawings bring warmth and immediacy, a spontaneous poetic touch of a child’s perspective, transforming this forest into a place of encounter, discovery, and joy.
In the next phase of the project, the forest was given its digital soul. Artist Lea Vidaković, together with animators Katrin Novaković, João Miguel Real and Matea Kovač, brought it to life.
The Forest of Little Wonders through augmented reality (AR) technology. Elements of the mural—animals, plants, flowers and hidden details—were brought to life through 2D and 3D animation, in Lea’s distinctive poetic, tactile and emotionally rich style.
BULGARIAN MURAL
Mural: The Lilies and the White Pond
Locations:- Zagreb Children’s Hospital, Croatia / 3rd floor
- ISUL University Hospital “Queen Ioanna”, Sofia, Bulgaria / Next to the entrance of the Pediatric ENT Department
- Dona Estefânia Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal / Immunoallergology waiting area
Artistic supervisors: Vessela Dantcheva – Bogdanova, dr.sc.; Sevina Ivanova, dr.sc.; Kalina Hristova, dr.sc.
Artists: Lidia Cvetkova (NBU students)
Project partners: HDLU (Croatia); Universidade Lusófona / Cofac (Portugal); Zagreb Children’s Hospital Zagreb; ISUL University Hospital “Queen Ioanna”, Sofia, Bulgaria; Dona Estefânia Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
Year: 2025
Description:The mural depicts a scene inspired by fairy tales — peaceful, fantastical, and timeless. Fairy tales are stories we all grew up with, filled with hope, magic, and love. The mural’s color palette consists of soft pastel tones, chosen to create a soothing atmosphere.
While vibrant colors can be stimulating, the mural provides a sense of calm in a space that can often feel overwhelming. White, though often associated with sterility, also symbolizes tranquility and serenity. It interacts beautifully with light, changing tone throughout the day.
Evgenia Stoitseva (BA Visual Arts student, NBU) worked closely with mural artist Lidia Cvetkova, developing model sheets for all characters — including turnarounds and various poses — to support the animators’ work. Lidia Cvetkova is motivated by the desire to bring peace and comfort to patients in the hospital through her art, hoping the mural will lift the spirits of children and adults alike during difficult times. Evgenia Stoitseva believes her contribution can bring hope, color, and meaning to children in a hospital environment, creating a space where they feel valued and loved.
PORTUGUESE MURAL
Mural: Spring Breeze
Locations:- Zagreb Children’s Hospital, Croatia / 2nd floor
- University Hospital ISUL “Queen Joanna”, Sofia, Bulgaria / Next to the entrance to the pediatric emergency admission area
- Dona Estefânia Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal / Waiting Room – Blood Collection Laboratory
Artist: Natalie Woolf
Artistic directors: Natalie Woolf, Ana Cortes
Mural realisation: Ana Cortes, Daniela Tietzen, Paulo Diogo Simão
Project partners: HDLU (Hrvatska); New Bulgarian University (Bugarska); Klinika za dječje bolesti Zagreb; Sveučilišna bolnica ISUL „Kraljica Ioanna“, Sofija, Bugarska; Bolnica Dona Estefânia, Lisabon, Portugal
Year: 2025
Description:A muralist team from Universidade Lusófona developed a design based on a spring meadow, inspired by watercolor depictions of plants and landscapes, supporting previous research on the nature of watercolor as a “natural element” that provides viewers with a sense of safety and calm. The mural was created in multiple layers to make it suitable for animation and an AR application. The work is titled Spring Breeze, evoking the time of year when fresh growth and new beginnings are most abundant, with animated movements visible through the AR application.
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Selected hospitals:
Croatia
KBC Sestre milosrdnice – Clinic for Tumors, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology with the Day Hospital “Mladen Ćepulić” – leased by the Zagreb Children’s Hospital (Clinic for Pediatric Diseases)
The Sisters of Charity Hospital (KBC Sestre milosrdnice) is one of the oldest hospitals in Southern Europe, founded in 1846 through the initiative of Cardinal Juraj Haulik, the Archbishop of Zagreb. The current campus on Vinogradska Street was developed in 1894 by German architect Kuno Waidmann. The hospital was run by nuns for many decades and has since evolved into a modern clinical centre with 17 clinics, 7 specialized institutes, and over 2,300 staff members. It also serves as an educational facility for medical, dental, and nursing schools.
Zagreb Children’s Hospital
The Children’s Hospital in Klaićeva Street in Zagreb was founded in 1904 as the first specialized children’s hospital in Croatia, initiated by physicians and humanists with strong support from the city authorities and benefactors. Housed in a purpose-built facility designed to meet the needs of children, the hospital was from the outset oriented toward modern pediatric standards, prevention, and care for the youngest patients. Throughout the 20th century, it continuously developed, introduced new specialties, and became the central pediatric institution in the country, maintaining to this day a key role in treatment, education, and scientific research in the field of pediatric medicine.
One mural was installed on the wall of the Clinic for Tumors, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology with the Day Hospital “Mladen Ćepulić,” while three murals found their place at the Zagreb Children’s Hospital.
Bulgaria – ISUL “Queen Joanna” University Hospital, Sofia
The University Multiprofile Hospital “Queen Joanna – ISUL” has a rich history dating back to 1927, when it was established as a hospital for insured workers. Construction began in 1934, and it was named in honor of Queen Joanna, who became its symbolic patron. Since the 1950s, ISUL has grown into a key academic and medical institution, offering specialized diagnostics, treatment, and education. It is home to the only pediatric ENT department in Western Bulgaria, where cochlear implants are also performed.
The mural locations within ISUL Hospital include the entrance to the Clinic for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, the entrance to the Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), and the entrance to the pediatric emergency department.
Portugal – Dona Estefânia Hospital, Lisbon
Founded in 1877 in honor of Queen Stephanie, Dona Estefânia Hospital was the first healthcare facility in Portugal dedicated exclusively to pediatric care. Its design was praised by Florence Nightingale as a model children’s hospital. Today, it is part of the Central Lisbon University Hospital Centre and offers a wide range of national pediatric specialties. By 2027, its services are expected to relocate to a new hospital complex, while the current building will continue to host child-focused care facilities.
Mural locations include the waiting areas of the emergency department, immunoallergology, and the Laboratory Blood Analises Clinic.
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Eye-Tracking Study of Project Murals
Bulgaria
As part of the project activities, an eye-tracking study was conducted at New Bulgarian University to analyse how viewers perceive and engage with the developed murals.
Participants were presented with digital versions of the Bulgarian, Portuguese, and Croatian murals while their eye movements were recorded. The study focused on identifying which visual elements attract attention, how long they are observed, and how quickly they capture the viewer’s gaze.
The results show that certain elements consistently attract and hold attention, highlighting the importance of visual composition and hierarchy in mural design.
These findings provide evidence-based guidance for improving visual interventions in healthcare environments, contributing to more engaging and supportive spaces.
animation
In the next phase of the HEALING NATURE project, the murals were expanded into the digital realm through the development of animation and augmented reality (AR), introducing a new interactive dimension. The animation was developed through the collaboration of international teams, with each partner country contributing a distinct artistic and technical approach.
In Croatia, the animation was created by a team consisting of Lea Vidaković, Katrin Novaković, João Miguel Real and Matea Kovač. The animation is based on children’s drawings produced during workshops, which were directly integrated into the mural and animated content through 2D digital animation. In parallel, a stop-motion animation segment was developed using handmade puppets inspired by children’s drawings, introducing an additional tactile and spatial dimension. The implementation of all animated elements into the AR system was led by Matea Kovač.
In Bulgaria, the animation was developed by a team from New Bulgarian University under the mentorship of Sevina Ivanova, with animators Evgenia Stoitseva, Daria Ruseva, Boryana Angelova, Nelina Petkova and Lyudmil Vasilev. The animation was created using digital hand-drawn frame-by-frame techniques, with a focus on character development, narrative clarity and adaptation of the mural to different spatial contexts.
In Portugal, the animation was developed by the team from Universidade Lusófona, led by Pedro Serrazina and Natalie Woolf, with production management by Caterina Gil and animators Ana Isabel Viana Cortes, Daniela Tietzen and Paulo Diogo Simão. The visual approach is based on drawing and watercolour techniques, emphasizing atmosphere, fluidity and the integration of still and moving images through 2D animation and compositing.
Across all partner countries, elements of the murals—animals, plants, flowers and hidden details—were brought to life through 2D and 3D animation and integrated into an AR experience using the Artivive platform. The animations were developed through a storyboard process and continuously tested in real hospital environments.
The project brings together diverse artistic approaches and techniques into a unified interactive experience that encourages exploration, play and emotional well-being.
ar
The AR component of the project connects the physical mural with digital animation, creating a layered and interactive experience that enhances spatial perception. The implementation was carried out using the Artivive platform, where selected visual elements within the mural function as triggers that, when scanned with a mobile device, activate animated sequences integrated into the physical space. The development of the AR system was carried out through the collaboration of partner teams in Croatia, Bulgaria and Portugal, with the implementation and integration of animations into the AR system in Croatia led by Matea Kovač in collaboration with the local animation team. The process included defining and optimizing visual triggers, preparing and adapting animation layers for real-space integration, and continuous testing of recognition accuracy and functionality under different conditions. Particular emphasis was placed on on-site testing in real hospital environments, ensuring reliability in everyday use. Eye-tracking analysis and user experience research were conducted by the Bulgarian team, enabling precise measurement of user attention and engagement and further refinement of the interaction design. The result is an accessible, cost-effective and technically unobtrusive system that allows the mural to “come to life” through intuitive interaction, without requiring complex infrastructure.
workshops
As part of the project, the Croatian Association of Fine Artists (HDLU) organized two art workshops with children without adequate parental care. The aim of these workshops was to encourage children’s creative expression and to incorporate their artwork into the final mural design, which will become part of an interactive experience in a hospital setting.
The first workshop was held on February 24, 2025, at Kuća sv. Franje in Vugrovec and was attended by 15 children aged 6 to 14. Under the guidance of artist Melinda Šefčić, the children created drawings of endangered animals, birds, and insects using markers and colored pencils. Through both structured and free drawing sessions, a total of 30 artworks were produced. In addition to creative expression, the workshop included an educational component about nature conservation. The children also took the initiative to create a picture book and drawings with supportive messages for hospital patients.
The second workshop took place on March 18, 2025, at SOS Children’s Village Lekenik, with 12 children aged 6 to 11 participating. Following a similar program to the first workshop, the children, guided by artist Melinda Šefčić, created 25 drawings themed around endangered animals and were also given the opportunity to draw freely. The workshop had educational and therapeutic dimensions.
As part of the project, the New Bulgarian University (NBU) organised two art workshops in Sofia, aimed at children without adequate parental care and children with developmental difficulties. The purpose of the workshops was to encourage children’s creative expression and to collect visual and narrative material that will be used in the development of animations and the final mural design for hospital environments.
The first workshop was held on 17 May 2025 at the “Hug me” Gallery in Sofia and was divided into two groups (11:00–13:00 and 14:00–17:00). A total of 15 children aged 6 to 15 (5 boys and 10 girls) participated. The activities were led by artists and mentors, with the support of a supervisor from the “Hug me” organisation and undergraduate students from NBU’s Animation and Visual Arts programmes.
The guiding question of the workshop was “Who lives there?”, and the children were presented with ten natural environments taken from the students’ project proposals. Through drawing and storytelling, the children created characters—both real and imaginary—that inhabit these environments. Guided activities encouraged emotional expression, creativity, and free artistic exploration. During the workshop, 52 artworks were created, which will serve as inspiration for the mural and animations.
The second workshop was held on 30 August 2025 at the “Winnie the Pooh” Speech Therapy Centre in central Sofia. Eight children aged 6 to 8 (3 boys and 5 girls) participated, including children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and developmental language disorder (DLD). The activities were led by a psychologist, artists, students, speech therapists, and representatives of NBU.
The workshop was dedicated to the final design of the mural “The Lilies and the White Pond” by Lidia Cvetkova. The children drew animals that inhabit the depicted natural environment, with the option to create additional drawings based on their own imagination. A total of 24 drawings were produced, and the workshop had a strong educational and therapeutic impact. Through creative activities, the workshop supported the development of fine motor skills, attention, emotional expression, empathy, and the overall well-being of the children.
press conferences
HDLU is the largest arts organization with an uninterrupted 153-year tradition of activity, which brings together around 2,000 visual media artists from all over Croatia. HDLU is headquartered at the House of Croatian Artists / Meštrović Pavilion in Zagreb, while the association also manages an additional gallery space, Karas, and around 10 artist studios. HDLU annually organizes around 40 exhibition projects in Croatia and abroad, around 30 artist residencies abroad, educational programs for artists to work on the market, awards annual professional awards, implements EU projects that improve the formal art education system and integrate people with fewer opportunities into society through work with artists, conducts public competitions for art solutions in public spaces, etc. The work of HDLU is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture, the City of Zagreb, the Office for NGOs of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb, the European Commission, the National Foundation for the Development of Civil Society, corporate sponsors, private donors, and members of the association. HDLU annually runs 2-3 EU projects; He was the coordinator of the ESF project "Art for people over 54" and the K2 Erasmus+ projects: "Arts of Freedom" and "Art2Business", and he was and remains a partner in various Erasmus+ and Creative Europe projects.
New Bulgarian University is a modern university of great national importance that actively participates in international university networks. Founded in September 1991 as a response to the need for a new model of liberal education, the university initiated significant reforms in Bulgarian higher education by introducing undergraduate and graduate studies, admission based on a general knowledge test, interdisciplinary and individual undergraduate programs, smaller programs, a credit system, distance and online education, an innovative university environment, and opportunities for lifelong learning. NBU's academic profile emphasizes social sciences and humanities, natural sciences, new technologies, and the arts. The university offers alternative programs and practice-oriented education, encouraging free choice of students and attracting prominent experts as lecturers. The university offers students an environment of civic engagement and public awareness, thus creating students with high academic competence and practical skills, enterprising, and socially responsible. Through international programs, NBU creates favorable conditions for student mobility. As part of an international university network, NBU is always open to a dialogue between academic traditions and modernity, aiming to create new contributions and practices. The motto of NBU is Ne varietatem timeamus (“Let us not be afraid of diversity”). As the largest private university in Bulgaria, NBU strives to put its academic potential at the service of society and to respond to social and economic changes with its projects. Over the past 15 years, the university has continuously implemented socially oriented projects and has received a number of awards for its contribution to the systematic resolution of current social problems.
Universidade Lusófona (UL) is a comprehensive university with educational and research activities in various scientific fields, from health sciences, engineering, social sciences to business and management. In parallel, UL is the leading provider of education in the field of film and media in Portugal, with campuses in the two capitals of the country: Lisbon and Porto. The university has a very strong international profile that directly stems from its mission focused on the development of Portuguese-speaking countries, with a high international profile of its educational, research and innovation activities. The Department of Film and Media Arts and the research unit CICANT – the Centre for Research in Communication and Media Arts – are very active in the Iberian Peninsula region and Europe, currently promoting several projects and deepening the relationship between education, research and innovation in Europe. The university is a member of the NEB (New European Bauhaus), an active participant in numerous E+, Horizon and EIT initiatives and coordinator of FilmEU – the University Alliance for Media Arts. Arts and media are a key aspect of the university's activities, and Lusófona brings not only extensive experience and offerings in these domains, but also its specific focus on Portuguese-speaking countries, especially in Africa and South America. UL also has a long history of participating in major educational, research and innovation projects at an international level. In recent years, UL has participated in numerous projects where its expertise, for example in film and media arts, has played a key role in promoting democracy through the development of training methodologies and digital skills to empower citizens and strengthen different forms of civic participation, such as the projects Dici-Educa; YouNDigital; Youth for youth; FemGlocal; Read Twice; EEAD; Fem-able; Women and Media; E-Skills; Debaqui; Rethink.
