The former mayor of Podgorica, Mihailo Burić, and the former director of Waterworks, Veselin Perović, announced yesterday that the "Bather" sculpture was removed only after they left their positions in the capital. This was pointed out by testifying in the proceedings initiated by the authors of "Swimmers", the brothers Svetomir and Svetozar Radović. They are demanding a million and a half euros for the removal of the famous sculpture from the park opposite the State Assembly, 14 years ago. Burić said that he did not make the decision to remove it. sculpture, originally called "Longing". "In any case, the capital should have protected this author's work from any kind of endangerment," said Burić. Perović claims that he was very surprised when he heard that Kupačica was demolished, judging that the municipal services failed at that time. "It's okay to move something, it wouldn't be the first time it happens, but I was very surprised when I saw the way it was done," said Perović. He said that everyone has the right to experience a particular work of art, but that the fact is that in one period that sculpture was shown as a landmark of Podgorica. The dispute continues on December 25, when the hearing of the now former mayor of Podgorica Miomir Mugoša and his assistant Vladan Vučelić is scheduled. On the same day, according to the plan, Ljubomir Čelebić, who was in charge of supervising and implementing the contract with the Radović brothers, will also be heard. Due to the demolition and removal of "Kupačica", the authors sued Mugoša, Vučelić, numerous city services, as well as the companies "Diam Bor" and "Elevator". "The work in question was demolished by coordinated action, knowingly, calculated, illegal, without consultation and consent of the author... and only on the basis of a telephone conversation between the then director of PUC Vladan Vučelić, and on the order of the coordinator of the commissioner of the Municipality of Podgorica, Miomir Mugoša" , the lawsuit states. A white marble figure of a woman bathing in a fountain under a huge white arch, known to the public as "The Bather", was installed across the street from the Assembly 16 years ago. The sculpture was removed in 2000, immediately after the arrival of the new city authorities.
She will give them a small "Kupacica" as a present. At yesterday's hearing, Radović promised that he would present Mihail Burić and Veselin Perović with the small sculpture "Swimmer", which he brought to yesterday's trial. "This one is much more beautiful," admitted Burić. Radović pointed out that it is exactly the same sculpture and that it only depends on the angle from which it is viewed.
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