"When I say book, I think of the universe, of wealth that is not wasted, of timelessness, of the magician of the human soul, especially of the power of the written word and literacy. I think of self-knowledge, but also of escape and salvation, of that special medicine for higher solitude... Did you know that the first known poet in history was actually a woman, who lived in ancient Ur, in the 23rd century BC. And she wrote odes to the gods," said poet Sofija Simović during an evening organized at the City Hall in Nikšić on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day.
The evening titled "May Your Eyes Not Be So", organized by the Literary Community (KZ) "Vladimir Mijušković" from Nikšić, in cooperation with the National Library "Njegoš", was an ode to books, poetry, and women. But not only to women as inspiration, as heroines of literary works, but also to women as poets, artists, women who create, not for the sake of whom they create.
"I would like to start this story about women and freedom from within with Clara Zetkin, and all those women who changed history, who through their silent struggle made it possible for us to say without silence: Here we are, here we are. Throughout history, women have been the force of selfless love, a symbol of art. Marina Tsvetaeva, Virginia Woolf, the independent Isidora Sekulić, recognizable for her philosophical reflections and the formation of female identity in literature... This evening would be incomplete without Montenegrin women, because Montenegrin women are a kind of ascetics, warriors, mistresses, housewives, humanitarians, writers, and many writers, travel writers, painters, and prominent statesmen have described and considered them somewhat mythological, romantic beings, describing mountain fairies carrying warmth under their coats," Simović pointed out.
She reminded us of the many women who have changed the world throughout history, of those who have defended freedom with both pen and sword, but also of the importance of books, and of the basic human needs, because, as she pointed out, they remain even after the "great flood."
"She is that life-saving ark, in which our heart, mind and soul will be saved. She is the resurrection of that grain of good in every person, she is a buried treasure. Let us read, even when it seems to us that we have come to the wrong time, that the wise have long since fallen silent, that everyone has become Facebook-savvy, writes the same, dresses identically like bloggers, laughs the same, and even observes the world the same way. Let us measure the circle of time and enjoy books in order to build palaces that suit us. In a word, let us read in order to live," said Simović.
The president of the "Vladimir Mijušković" literary circle, poet Spasoje Bajović, decided that his story would be an ode to a woman who, as he said, is an impossible desire, but also an almighty fire.
"In her eyes, the visible and invisible shine, the oceans ripple, the grain fields smell, the nights and days sway. She rules over secrets and fairy tales, she is the foundation of the house and hope, the support of progress and duration. Both powerless and omnipotent, she has long since become a song of songs," Bajović said with inspiration. He mentioned some of the women who, with their deeds, have transcended life, and history, as he said, "has woven them into a wreath of eternity with golden letters."
"They raised the voice of reason against slavery and injustice, nurtured true love, helped the oppressed and defended the freedom of self-sacrifice like Marguerite Duras and Bela Ahmaduljina. Or those who wake up with a smile at dawn, provocative and uninvited poetic travelers and swallows of the literary community 'Vladimir Mijusković'. Caring and unattainable, they wake up in their circles the blind 'touches' of youth, expecting something miraculous, or they soar into the abysses of their memories, writing letters from the mirror, wearing winged shoes, hurrying to reach the imperial circle of world creators: Tsvetaeva, Šimborska, Vesna Parun and many others. Everywhere and everywhere a woman is a woman, a sacred gift of heaven, a joy of all times," concluded the president of the Literary Community.
Kristina Radović, an art historian, spoke about how women fought to find themselves behind the canvas and create, and not just in front, as models. She recalled that the first female artists are mentioned in the era of ancient Greece, Calypso, Timareta, Olympia..., but that their works have not been preserved.
Speaking about women painters through different periods, about their unequal position in relation to male painters, but also about the class affiliation that enabled women to study in private schools or prestigious academies, Radović pointed out that changes for the better began with the establishment of women's associations, due to the increasing attention paid to visual culture among women in the 19th century.
"With the increase in women's rights at the beginning of the 20th century, their position in the art world has improved. Today, among women, there are well-known regional and global names from the art world who have received recognition for their merits. Among the many, I will mention several well-known global and regional names from the art world of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, such as: Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe, Marina Abramović, Yayoi Kusama, Nadežda Petrović, Milena Pavlović Barili," emphasized Radović.
The first Montenegrin educated female artists appeared in the second half of the 20th century.
"Ksenija Vujović-Tošić, Nada Marović-Stanić, and Danica Danja Đurović-Marković must be mentioned as the first Montenegrin educated female artists. These are authors whose works are characterized by subtle sensibility and lyrical intimate poetics. Their works have not yet been adequately valued," the art historian pointed out.
The Pedagogical Academy in Nikšić, the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cetinje and the Cetinje Biennial, in the period 1991-2005, according to her, were the main factors in the dominance of women on the Montenegrin art scene.
"Throughout the centuries, women have expressed their creativity and aesthetic values through the creation of works of art and have irrefutably proven their worth," said Radović, adding that there are exceptional young female artists in Montenegro.
It was the paintings of an artist, Iva Stanišić, that further colored and enriched the evening, and it was complemented with verses by members of the KZ "Vladimir Mijušković" - Jelena Međedović, Mirko Lale Damjanović, Snežana Pejović Ratković, Jovan Drašković, Violeta Pavić, Miloš Kecojević, Suzana Stanišić Bijelović and Miljan Mijušković. Slavko Milić read an excerpt from his book of prose, while Nataša Lalatović, in addition to her poetry, also recited "Letter to Čedomila" by Milan Dugo Krivokapić. Even the Mayor, Marko Kovačević, recited verses - "Ordinary Song" by Milan Rakić.
The moderator of the evening, which was organized with the support of the Municipality of Nikšić, was Svetlana Mandić, and the audience also had the opportunity to hear verses by Njegoš, Vito Nikolić, Obrad Nenezić, but also by Ana Marija Marović, the first female poet of Montenegrin origin, as well as quotes by Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, Katerina Bela Radonjić, the first female Montenegrin writer, and Milka Bajić - Poderegin, the first female novelist in Montenegro.
A poetry evening titled "Through Your Eyes, It Wasn't" was organized as part of the April repertoire of the Nikšić cultural scene.
Bonus video:
