MILIĆ OF MAČVA – CELESTIAL MILIĆ
HOUSE OF JEVREM GRUJIĆ – OPENING NOVEMBER 9TH
To mark the 90th anniversary of the birth of the famous Serbian painter Milić Stanković, known as Milić of Mačva, House of Jevrem Grujić holds an exhibition presenting the first 30 years of his work.
Visitors will be able to admire over 60 of Milić’s paintings, some of which have never been displayed in public before, as well as numerous personal items, photographs, drawings, and art installations.
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the artist’s family and private collectors, under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia.
The old peasant dream book says that a child born at the end of October/beginning of November will either become a soldier or an artist. On one such October in 1934, Milić Stanković was born in a cornfield and separated from his mother with a sickle.
Born in Belotić in Mačva area, he grew up in the Serbian countryside, overcoming such idleness of living with his vivid imagination. He deeply absorbed the world around him with all his senses, drawing infinite inspiration and creating his own world later elaborated in his poems, texts, interviews, cycles of paintings and drawings and philosophical thought – abundance of symbols and multi-layered messages can be discovered hidden in his works.
In high school years, he swore the “Painter’s Oath” to himself in the mirror, saying: “I must be a painter! I will be a painter and I will only live from painting!”, accepting his forthcoming fate.
Recognized as an excellent student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade, he soon received a non-refundable scholarship. He organized over a hundred solo exhibitions all over the world – from North America to Brussels, Rome, Paris, and Vienna. Using his knowledge of architecture, he constructed three towers – in Belgrade, Belotić, and Zlatibor mountain – at the time used as places of creation and artistic gatherings, now serving as legacies of his life’s work.
He was a part of Mediala – an important movement and creative group that emerged in Serbia in 1950s – together with vital Serbian artists of the time: Olja Ivanjicki, Leonid Šejka, Peđa Ristić “Jesus”, Vladimir Veličković, Djordje Kadijević… While also following surrealism trails, they combined rich Serbian history, myths, traditions, and personalities with contemporary events.
The works of Milić of Mačva as one of the most prolific and recognizable Serbian masters of the 20th century can be found in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Vatican Museum in Rome, the History and Art Museum in Geneva, and many other galleries and private collections, including the collection of David Rockefeller.
Exhibition authors are Branka Conić, director of House of Jevrem Grujic, and Andrea Milojević, art historian.
In addition to the Ministry of Culture of the RS, the exhibition was supported by the following companies: Dunav osiguranje, Elixir Foundation, Publikum, DPC, Alma Quattro, Avakum, Clockwork Production, and Valiant communication agency.
The exhibition will be open until the end of April 2024.
Welcome!
