18.05.2019.

Establishments of Culture of the Ministry of Defence among the most Visited in “Night of Museums”

In the framework of the 16th Night of Museums, exhibitions organised by cultural establishments of the Ministry of Defence “Military Museum” and Media Centre “Odbrana” took up a significant place.

In the Museum of the City of Belgrade, visitors had an opportunity to see the exhibition “Defence 78” by author Dušan Jovović”, that was organised by the Ministry of Defence. The exhibition is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of defence of the country against NATO aggression. This exhibition set up presents in a unique way the heroic defence during 78 days of NATO aggression, and it is dedicated to perished members of the armed forces, police and civilians, among whom there were many children. It is a multimedia and interactive set up which presents for the first time video and printed material which have not been presented to the public until now.

The visitors’ impression of this exhibition is that we have to remember our difficult days, and that our generation must pass the truth that this exhibition tells to the generations to come.

Maja Ilić from Lazarevac and Jelena Jevrić from Belgrade shared their impressions of the exhibition “Defence 78”.

- We were pleasantly surprised by the exhibition because the installations were produced in a high quality manner and we liked the fact that the exhibition reminds of one part of our history. I would certainly recommend everyone to visit this exhibition”, Jelena Jevrić said.

One of the most attractive locations on the map of this year’s event was surely the Military Museum on Kalemegdan. The permanent museum exhibition of the Military Museum depicts centuries-long struggle for freedom in these parts, through presentation of artistic and historical objects, sculptures, artistic paintings, photographs reproductions and original artefacts.

Citizens of all generations, predominantly children, watched an exercise demonstration by Fencing Club “Quill” on the plateau in front of the building of the Military Museum. This demonstration of our people fencing traditions reveals what it was that was taught and in what manner at fencing lessons in the 18th and 19th century. Gathered citizens could see and learn the basic moves of attack, fencing posture, and fencers’ movement forwards and backwards.

The visitors with whom we talked said that they had been always attracted by fencing, and that it was a unique opportunity to see it in person and learn some of the fencing moves.

Exhibition-gallery space of the Military Museum in Balkanska Street was a venue where an exhibition was set up titled “Heroes of the fatherland fallen during NATO aggression in 1999”. The exhibition is dedicated to fallen and missing defenders of the fatherland during NATO aggression. Photographs and personal information of the killed and missing combatants are displayed according to a unique alphabet.

In the Central Military Club visitors had an opportunity to see two permanent exhibitions. In the Great Gallery there is currently an exhibition “Children in war” which attracted great attention of the audience. It is a documented testimony to the children, the victims of wars in the period 1914 – 1999. The exhibition was jointly prepared by the Media Centre “Odbrana”, Museum of Genocide Victims and the Fund “Little Milica Rakić from Batajnica”.

In the Small Gallery of the Central Military Club there is an exhibition titled “Never Forget” by the author Milen Čuljić. The exhibition contains works of 90 photoreporters, made in spring 1999 and brings a testimony to the horrors of war, innocent human victims, devastated houses and bridges, roads and factories. The exhibition was organised by “Club of Generals and Admirals of Serbia” in cooperation with the Media Centre “Odbrana”.

This year’s event “Night of Museums” which gathers over 200 museum exhibitions in 53 places in Serbia has “Freedom” as its slogan, which perfectly fitted into these exhibitions which first of all remind of centuries-long struggle of our people for freedom, and the visitors were reminded of all grand and difficult moments of that struggle.