A painter of creative honesty

Montenegro is a country of painters; it was said before me, and it will be so, I believe, also after.

What separates Montenegrin painters from others? It is, without a doubt, the never conquered Montenegro and its glorious history; its picturesque, unique landscape.

Leaving Montenegro for Belgrade in the early fifties, Petar Lubarda he didn't paint any more landscapes! There he didn't have Montenegrin karst, cracked bars, Montenegrin nights... He won high world awards in São Paulo and Tokyo on motifs from Montenegro; ("Night in Montenegro" and "Between Day and Night").

Montenegrins are a special people! - a New York University professor told me in New York, Dr. Zorka Milić, a miner's daughter, born in Pennsylvania...

I had the good fortune and the honor to speak with the luminaries of Montenegrin fine art, s By Petr Lubard, Milo Milunović, Miloš Vušković, Risto Stijović, Luka Tomanović, Aco Prijić, Voj Stanić, Bat Pravilović, Mata Đuranović, Nikola Mijo Vujošević, Sava Vujović, Mario Maskareli, Vuk Radović... Veliš Leković...

I wrote about all of them in "Pobjeda", NIN, Sarajevo's "Svijet" and on this site.

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, many Montenegrin fine artists were educated in European cultural centers, most often in Paris, Naples, Rome, Vienna.

And one of the prominent Montenegrin painters was Veliša Leković (1910-1971).

He was born in Godinje, a village in Crmnica, characterized by old Montenegrin architecture; houses made of hewn stone, with the famous vaults. Veliša Leković proved his commitment to advanced ideas by participating in the famous Belvedere events in 1936.

Even as a boy, he drew meticulously, later perfecting his talent while studying in Italy. Then, in 1933, he entered the Art School in Belgrade, and then the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1941, his schooling was interrupted by the Second World War, in which Veliša participated as a brave machine gunner, fighting against the fascist occupier and domestic traitors, of which there was no shortage in the "hilly Balkans".

Holder of the Partisan Monument in 1941. Winner of the Bar Liberation Award.

After the end of the war, he continued his studies at the same academy, which he finished in 1948 in the class of an excellent pedagogue, master of painting, Milo Milunović.

He dedicated his artistic life to his native region. This was once emphasized by the painter and publicist Nikola Mijo Vujošević, when he said that Crmnica had a loyal, excellent, special and truly valuable creator in Veliša...

An art historian will say Milan Coko Marović that Veliša Leković is a talent refined by creative honesty. Primarily a pastelist, Leković left us a valuable, well-rounded, consistent, lyrically clean and unequivocally personal opus.

Veliša Leković is the most valuable Montenegrin pastelist. According to art critics, he managed to continue the line of relationship with space, its color and light values.

Veliša's "Spičanka", a superb work in pastel, is characteristic of a portrait of a woman who is about to speak.

He liked to paint motifs from his native Crmnica, especially Vir, as he called him.

Only painters, as creators, know how difficult it is to work in pastel; there is no repair like, say, in oil. And Veliša was a master of pastels, not only in Montenegro, but also beyond.

After finishing the Academy, in 1948, he returned to Montenegro and Cetinje, in the days of post-war enthusiasm and enthusiasm, with several colleagues, he gave a significant boost to the development of Montenegrin painting.

- Zeal and enthusiasm were the basic features of the newly created artistic climate - said Milan Coko Marović. - It is done in full enthusiasm but with emphasized thematic preoccupations. In the beginning, the impressions of the war are processed: the battle and the people in it are present in almost all the works. Veliša Leković with enthusiasm and enthusiasm, always open and honest, engaged and committed, creates drawings, graphics, oils, and very fresh inspired pastels gradually appear... The painting of Veliša Leković is a valuable and indispensable document in terms of method, determination and results. Montenegrin art. His works - emphasizes Coko Marović - show sincerity, creative honesty and personal character. They become part of our consciousness and culture, they radiate capturing our attention and sincere admiration...

Long ago, in 1970, I talked to Veliša Leković about his favorite painting, actually about the painting he loves.

- I have several pictures that I love equally - Veliša told me. - I will single out "Crmnica in the winter fog". It is located in Rome where I almost had a solo exhibition. I highlight that picture because it is one of the ones where I was able to express what I wanted the most. My professor Milo Milunović also liked her. I don't have a photo of that painting, just like I don't have almost any other. I'm sorry that I don't take photos of my works, and especially that I didn't take photos of some that are abroad, but there you go...

And the famous Montenegrin painter, Aleksandar Aco Prijić, admired Leković's pastels.

- Leković's pastels seem bright, seething with joy, and in them even a dried vine bush has its own further life - concluded Prijić.

Veliša Leković, painter and fighter. A superb master of pastels, to whom he remained faithful until the end of his relatively short life.