03.09.2018.
“Memory of Yugoslav Revolutionary Artists” Exhibition Opens
Today, at the Great Gallery of the Central Military Club, the exhibition dubbed “Memory of Yugoslav Revolutionary Artists” has opened. It consists of 43 works purchased in the period from 1961 to 1985 from the exhibitions entitled “People’s Liberation War in the works of fine artists of Yugoslavia”, which are permanently stored in the collection of the Gallery of the Central Military Club.
Opening the exhibition, the art historian Nikola Kusovac, who once appeared in the catalogue “PLW in the works of fine artists of Yugoslavia”, printed for the last, 6th exhibition organized in 1985, emphasized that at that time he had a small moral dilemma whether to accept it because his father was a patriot, but a royal officer. He accepted, as he added, because the establishment of this exhibition was a call to patriotism.
- I think we need to re-cultivate patriotism, and this can be done in various ways. The point is that the awareness changes, that we should realise that without proper patriotism there is no future for a nation, a country, Kusovac pointed out, adding that the revolution brings patriotic solutions regardless of which side you are, but the fatherland is above all.
- This exhibition testifies to this. Some painters who would certainly not be found under the strictest selection in the exhibition are here, because those who chose artworks were interested in fine art. And supporting the fine art. This can be seen at this exhibition better than anything - our renowned art historian emphasized.
Lieutenant Colonel Biljana Pašić, who addressed the audience on behalf of Odbrana Media Centre, said that since the beginning of the work of the Gallery of the JNA Central Military Club, in 1953, numerous thematic exhibitions of Yugoslav artists dedicated to the Revolution and PLW were organized. The first one was organized under the roof of this institution in 1961, and the success it achieved was an incentive for the exhibition to receive a permanent character in the form of the manifestation “PLW in the works of fine artists of Yugoslavia”, which was held every five years.
- It remains to us from this time distance only to realise that the manifestation has produced the most enduring and truly worthwhile artistic achievements on the subject of the PLW and the revolutions that constitute our artistic heritage today are essential for understanding the development of the Yugoslav art in the first decades after the liberation, Lieutenant Colonel Pašić said.
Over the years, our famous artists have participated in the exhibition, including Đorđe Andrejević Kun, Danica Antić, Jovan Bijelić, Milo Milunović, Milan Cmelić, Olja Ivanjicki, Branko Miljuš, Cvetko Lainovic, Boža Ilic, Petar Lubarda, Nikola Martinoski, Angelina Gatalica, Oto Logo, Miloš Gvozdenović, Milan Konjović, Milić Stanković - Milić of Mačve, Petar Omčikus, Voja Stanić, Mića Popović, Mersad Berber, Emir Dragulj, Halil Tikveša and others.
