A long time ago, three decades ago, on the first days of spring, on the bank of a timid river, between two bridges, in the time of the "war for peace", the first Montenegrin private gallery, with the symbolic name and message "The Bridge", opened its doors.
He began his speech with these words Dragan Mitov Đurović at the ceremony on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the "Most" gallery, which would be significant and big for any other institution and cultural center. The gallery, as its name suggests, brings together and connects art, its creators, lovers and admirers, friends, but also visionaries and enthusiasts such as its founder and owner. Branko Kovačević.
"Remembering all these years behind us, moments filled with meetings with dear people come to mind. Ideas that came spontaneously, the beginnings of many artists who later became famous, which I always sincerely looked forward to, exhibitions where great artists proved their supreme skill... I also remember my first steps in Cetinje, back in 1986, Biljarda and my friends. So the beginnings of activities related to the gallery under the name Most in this place date back more than 30 years. I don't have enough words to express my gratitude to all the people and institutions that have been with the gallery for the past three decades", said Kovačević, thanks to whom the Most gallery exists, survives, resists all (un)times, the most diverse circumstances and like a magnet attracts people who know how to recognize sincere love for art and friendship, all in a good spirit and energy.
The event that celebrated the valuable jubilee brought a varied program, it was also an opportunity for those present to share their own and hear other memories of numerous gatherings, interesting stories and moments that happened over the years in the area below Mali Brdo, on the Morača coast.
In the right corner, behind the entrance door of the gallery, there is a kind of corner of memory, a modest testimony of a rich history, photographs, selected catalogs, notes, just to remember the significant moments of the Bridge. On the sides are two giants of Montenegrin art, Miodrag Dado Đurić i Uroš Tosković, their busts made in bronze by a sculptor Slavenko Rakočević Rakoč and in agreement with Branko Kovačević exhibited them, completing the exhibition and symbolically reviving their spirit and presence at the ceremony itself. In addition, works were presented Pera Nikčević "Bridges of Paris" which the artist, in his characteristic drawing manner, painted directly on the walls of the gallery, both external and internal.
On April 25, the ceremony was opened with the Montenegrin national anthem performed by a young musician Eme Vuković, followed by official speeches.
An art historian who, during the gallery's long history, left her mark on Most, Ljiljana Zeković, she pointed out that it is one of the first private galleries in Montenegro that represents much more than a place of exhibition activity, sales space and a workshop for furnishing works of art.
"From the beginning of its activities, it was a bridge that connected eminent artists from all fields, historians and theorists and those who seek and find the highest values of the human spirit in art. It has also become a place of dialogue about art, a creative workshop and a multimedia stage. Various programs, art colonies, publishing activities, manifestations of different profiles, theater productions, concerts, connecting different cultural spaces, over 500 independent and collective exhibitions of local and foreign authors have formed, in fact, a unique center for culture, the nucleus of which is the art gallery. So, with her actions, she justified her demanding name 'The Bridge'. She managed to connect like a long immanent humanity and the creative value of the human spirit", emphasized Zeković.
The number of artists and their works that have left their mark on the Most gallery over the past 30 years is impressive, he said. Gordan Champar who moderated the opening ceremony. Thus, the big event on April 25 was magnified by numerous guests, dozens of them for whom the gallery space was small, including members of Kovačević's family, friends, artists including: Luka Lagator, Slobodan Marunović, Pero Nikčević, Slavenko Rakočević Rakoč, Đoko Marković, brat Uroš Tošković, Ambassador of Croatia in Montenegro Veselko Grubišić, executive director of Sports Facilities Podgorica Aleksandar Vuckovic, several journalists and many others who took turns in the gallery space...
Dragan Mitov Đurović reminded the audience of the magnificent past of the gallery, which is told by names and numbers.
"It is worth recalling the exhibition of the works of painter champions: Dada Đurić, Miloš Vušković, Gojko Berkuljan, Nikola Gvozdenović Gvozd, Uroš Tošković, for whom the "Most" Gallery was the first artistic home upon his return from the world. The memory and respect for the founders of the Gallery lives on Coka Marović, Olga Perović, Mijo Vujošević, Milo Pavlović, Pavla Đonović, and a versatile artist Đorđija Đok Žigalj... Permanent gratitude to the members of the Art Council and friends of the Gallery: The wealth of Erakovic, Ljiljana Zeković, Slobodan Marunović, Ilija Dapčević, Nataša Nikčević, Ljiljana Karadžić and many others who continue to wholeheartedly help the Gallery to 'precede and live'. There is a memory of the first concert among the pictures, now a world-famous musician Milos Karadaglića, to numerous young creators who took their first artistic steps in the Gallery, which cooperated with numerous educational and cultural institutions", reminded Đurović.
Emphasizing that the gallery nurtured the publishing activity, he emphasized that the book "Smoke to smoke" by Pavel Đonović, published by the Gallery, was printed in an unreal ten thousand copies, which is unimaginable even for today's production.
"In Montenegro and the region, close to five hundred exhibitions of painting greats and beginners, hundreds of literary and musical meetings, dozens of books, along with numerous art colonies in which more than two hundred artists participated. Unforgettable programs 'Rainbow over the bridge', 'Podium for young artists', 'Viluško cultural summer', 'Cetinians to their city', and the establishment of the Montenegrin association of gallerists, numerous humanitarian actions. The testimony lives on in the pages of the "Chronicle" gallery magazine (edited by experts Budislav King) in the memory of friends, creators, maybe soon in the Gallery's monograph", said Đurović, hinting at what has been the wish of the founder and owner of the "Most" gallery Branko Kovačević for years - a monograph.
Although he had previously spoken about it several times for Vijesti, Kovačević also repeated at the anniversary celebration in an interview with Vijesti that the monograph remains the only wish he hopes will come true, and which would be a relevant trace of existence, effort and action. .. He also said that he expects the monograph to be published, he would like it as soon as possible, and he believes that the decision-makers will recognize the importance of that publication and support the project.
At the opening, Kovačević addressed the audience and informed them that preparatory work on the creation of the Most gallery monograph has begun...
"It will record everything that happened in these almost four decades, from Cetinje in 1986 to the present day, and it will contain everyone who gave (a part of) themselves to the Bridge. Thank you once again for all these years and thank you for tonight", announced Kovačević, and Đurović said:
"And that's how the 'Bridge' gallery 'lasts and survives' for three decades. Bridges with artistic connection and fasting - because those responsible for culture have been silent for a long time. Maybe they'll talk after all. Because the founder and director of the 'Most' gallery, Branko Rajkov Kovačević, deserve support, for the word, for the picture, for the music", said Đurović.
Creativity that connects two cultural environments
Zeković noted that with this exhibition, Branko Kovačević expresses his reverence for the greats of Montenegrin contemporary art who are ambassadors of their country in the world, and who connected two cultural environments with their creativity.
"Although Dado Đurić and Uroš Tošković were not presented with their works, at the exhibition they were presented with portraits in bronze, in bust format. Insisting on their realistic presentation and character traits, the sculptor shapes them in a manner of expressive treatment of matter and form - notches and bulges, crackers, contrasts of light and shadow, through which the complexity of their inner turmoil is revealed," she said.
When it comes to the works of Pero Nikčević, recognizable contours of Paris, bridges, landmarks and various details, as well as his motif of women, naked bodies, are what visitors or passers-by can see in the coming period.
"The exhibition is dominated by Pero Nikčević's monumental drawings painted in black directly on the walls of the gallery. They present Parisian bridges that, with their perspective depth, visualize another dimension that virtually draws the viewer into the space of the painting. Nikčević, a master of drawings, with lines of refined elegance and refined vibrations, discreet shading , with harmonious linear rhythms, contours of form, he precisely shapes architectural constructions with discreet decorative elements in one breath. Starting from their authentic appearance and simulacrum of the ambient space, the artist paints details, birds, animals, and his famous female figure who appears as if haunted. , then, the symbol of the city - the Eiffel Tower. Nikčević masterfully evokes the atmosphere of the metropolis, which even today represents the beacon of the greatest values of modern art at the end of the 19th and 20th centuries," said Zeković.
Building bridges for better neighborly relations
Ambassador Grubišić also addressed those present at the opening, who pointed out that the Most gallery is particularly dear to him and pointed out the real and metaphorical significance of bridges, referring to the name of the gallery, but also to the Pero Nikčević exhibition.
"If we could not preserve the former state, then we must and can build good neighborly relations, a lot of bridges. I am glad that I am here from the youngest member of the European Union and I hope that it will be soon. I also claim that, if each of the six republics concentrates on its own society, again to be all in one community for a maximum of six years in friendship," said the ambassador.
Pointing out that he is privileged to be speaking at the opening of the exhibition and the jubilee of the "Most" gallery, Grubišić recalled the numerous connections between Montenegro, France, and Croatia and admitted that he was fascinated by Rakočević's sculptures and the lightness and beauty of Nikčević's drawings.
Bonus video:
