Our lives may be a flash in the universe, a twinkling of a star, a moment in the boundless and unknown... But, for us, life is valuable. Mio was also a great Montenegrin painter, Vojislav Voj Stanić who recently passed away. A hundred years seems so short now, even though Stanić continues to live through his legacy.
In his honor, the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU), in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Media, organized a commemorative session yesterday, which was also attended by Stanić's son Tomislav Tomo Stanić, a where the president of CANU spoke Ljubiša Stanković, Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović and composer Žarko Mirković. Those present had the opportunity to see an excerpt from the film about Stanić, in which, accompanied by the sounds of the violin, his pictures, scenes from his life, spoken thoughts and wisdom, as well as reviews alternated Rada Šerbedžija, Đorđe Kadijević i Branko Baletić to a great artist.
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The session, which began with a minute of silence, was opened by Stanković, who called for a tribute to the deceased artist.
"The lifetime of academician Vojo Stanić, who lasted more than a century, and whose work will last for centuries, has ended," he pointed out.
He said that now, when Stanić has left us, "his memory obliges us to continue to nurture and promote his rich artistic heritage, which will forever remain inscribed in the annals of Montenegrin art."
Mirković said that "Voj's attitude towards life, his wisdom, the time on earth which he lived to the end and which he filled with many pleasures, and above all the joy of painting, are against any pathos, even the one that is difficult to avoid in such circumstances".
"Maybe that's why this meeting should be accepted as another meeting, not as a farewell, as a celebration of his life and what he did during his life, even as a celebration of life itself," said Mirković and added:
"Because, as he said and as has already been said, living is beautiful, and no matter what kind of life it is, we have no other. I believe that Vojo would not blame us for this way of thinking, on the contrary", Mirković said honestly.
With the words: "Goodbye, maestro", Minister Vujović also said goodbye.
"When a man passes away, the one with a capital 'C', we realize how important the end is for a life - because then we measure the end by the legacy and beauty of the life that someone led", she pointed out and added that Stanić, when she congratulated him, was 100 .'s birthday this year, uttered one great truth, which she reminded: "It's nice to live, no matter what."
Stanković pointed out that CANU adequately celebrated Voj Stanić's jubilee birthday.
"Only a few months ago, we at CANU prepared with great enthusiasm an event in honor of our dear Voj, marking his 100th birthday. The beginning of this year at CANU was marked by an exhibition and monograph accompanied by a film about the life and work of academician Stanić. Unfortunately, even then, due to advanced years, we were not able to share those joyful moments live with Voja in this new building of the Academy", said Stanković.
Mirković added that he is quite sure that at the time no one thought that similar celebrations would not happen again, "because with his long, fruitful and exemplary life, and above all with his works that have somehow grown with us, he got us used to the fact that he is always there".
"His paintings are much easier to love than to explain, because, according to Voj, both the process and the result of creation are in themselves a magic that partly comes from the subconscious. That's why no one, not even he, can fully understand them," observes Mirković.
The speakers recalled the artist's biography, achievements, numerous awards, including two Thirteenth of July awards, AVNOJ award, Zagreb City Award, but also the status of a prominent cultural creator of Montenegro, as well as numerous studies and monographs about his work. Mirković also emphasized that Stanić joined the partisans as a twenty-year-old, but, "in his words, less because of ideology, and more because he felt that justice was on their side."
"He was like that even during the breakup of Yugoslavia, when he openly supported the collapse of our society intoxicated with nationalism," said Mirković, emphasizing that "he was like that, free and consistent, all his life."
Stanković explained that Stanić spoke humanly in the early 1990s "when in difficult times of war and conflict he knew how to be the voice of the community with his statements, and in his involvement in that period to protect the reputation of the Academy and the citizens of Montenegro, when those values were under attack".
The president of CANU said that Stanić's art is recognizable for its cheerfulness, optimism and immediacy, and that it represents an inexhaustible source of inspiration for generations of artists and lovers of fine art.
"Stanić's painting oeuvre is imbued with love for Montenegro, Herceg Novi, the Mediterranean and man. It was aimed at creating a world filled with beauty and harmony," said Stanković.
Vujović pointed out that Stanić did not strive to provide definitive answers with his works.
"Instead, with his paintings, he introduced us to a world where dreams and reality become one," said the minister, emphasizing that a special place in the artist's works is occupied by Herceg Novi - the city that breathed through his canvases.
Stanković stated that Vojo Stanić is one of the most important Montenegrin artists in the 20th century, but also much more.
"He was a visionary, a humanist and a great lover of life. His art reminds us of the importance of beauty, kindness and optimism," says Stanković.
Vujović added that someone who was friends with him recently wrote that Stanić never said a bad word about anyone in his entire life and that he had the eyes of a child.
"That can be read from his works," Vujović assessed.
Thus, even now, Stanić continues to be the human in all of us and to live his eternity.
A bright view of life and people
Having asked a rhetorical question how to say goodbye to Voj Stanić without pathos, Mirković saved one of the many anecdotes that testify to Stanić's cheerfulness, outlook on life and people for the very end.
"When a collector asked him to verify the authenticity, allegedly, of Voj's painting that he paid dearly for, he told him: 'This is better for you than if I did it,'" Mirković finished, drawing smiles on the faces of those present.
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