In order to activate anti-fascist values and make them receptive and effective, and to awaken new generations to the spirit of the ideas of anti-fascism as a commitment to life, and not only as part of iconic signs in popular culture, the Faculty of Fine Arts, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, implemented the project "Anti-Fascist Map of Nikšić". which was presented to the Nikšić audience.
The project includes three segments: the promotion of the map and artifacts, the opening of the exhibition "Between Resistance and Memory" by curator Ljiljana Karadžić and authors: Dejan Batrićević, David Delibašić, Zdravko Delibašić Belog, Srđa Dragović, Nataša Đurović, Dušica Ivetić, Ana Matić, Teodora Nikčević, Suzana Pajović, Lazar Pejović, Željko Reljić, Mata Uljarević, Maja Šofranac, and the musical part of the program, in which the "Zahumlje" choir and orchestra participated, conducted by prof. Predrag Martinović.
Opening the exhibition, Minister of Culture Janko Ljumović said that the map is an important guide for new generations, but also for all of us, to remind ourselves of "all the key artifacts of the anti-fascist tradition".
"The 'Anti-Fascist Map of Nikšić' project, by activating memory and topographical revitalization of the heritage of anti-fascism, brings a new impulse to the strengthening of the anti-fascist idea," said Ljumović.
According to him, Nikšić, as a city with a rich anti-fascist tradition, was an inspiration for the implementation of the project. He reminded that due to their exceptional cultural values and historical significance, 114 monuments from the territory of the municipality of Nikšić have the status of cultural property.
"Cultural goods of a memorial character, which bear witness to significant events and personalities from the liberation wars, must be a permanent object of protection and preservation, because their revitalization additionally symbolizes the libertarian and anti-chastist spirit of Montenegro," said the Minister of Culture.
Projects like the "Anti-Fascist Map of Nikšić" are significant, said Ljumović, "they narrow the possibilities of destabilizing anti-fascism as a prerequisite for any form of democratic and emancipatory organization".
Prof. M.Sc. Lazar Pejović said that the map was conceived as a complex informative form that, in addition to "spatial disposition of some heritage of anti-fascism in the municipality of Nikšić, also tries to create a very short and concise context of the entire anti-fascism" in the area of the said municipality.
"According to the nature of things, the greatest emphasis is placed on the monumental heritage, which is really abundant in the municipality of Nikšić, among which there are some monuments whose artistic and ambient qualities are exceptional and, in my deep conviction, have a certain tourist potential, so the map can be viewed in in that context as something that enables or facilitates someone from the outside to discover that heritage", said Pejović.
According to him, the work on the map was quite demanding, even though it is a small graphic form.
"Whenever you have a small space to design content, it's quite demanding. This map does not pretend to be a reference and to be comprehensive. Whoever is better versed in this topic will see that there are many things missing. However, I think that through the selection of these references we have covered the most important value categories related to this topic", said Pejović and added that he hopes to see similar projects, on the same or a similar topic, soon in other cities of Montenegro.
Editors Lazar Pejović and Petar Lekić worked on the map, Ana Matić, Sandra Đurović, Dejan Drašković, Srđa Dragović and Matija Šoškić were in charge of the technical design, while the photos are signed by Lazar Pejović.
Project coordinators are Boris Abramović and Milena Jovićević.
The organizers of the promotion, which was organized in the "Nikola I" and "Ilija Šobajić" galleries, are the public institutions "Museums and Galleries" and "Zahumlje", as part of the "September Days" manifestation.
Thirteen artists, thirteen different poetics and strategies
The authors of the exhibition "Between Resistance and Memory" showed that anti-fascism "fits" well with artists.
"The works were specially created for this exhibition and the artists responded to the theme of anti-fascism in a special way. Thirteen artists, thirteen different poetics, thirteen different strategies. Some of the artists were inspired by the collective or personal memory of Nikšić's glorious revolutionary past, others dealt with the state of the monument in the post-transition period, and some dealt with the general antagonism between fascism and anti-fascism," said exhibition curator Ljiljana Karadžić.
What is interesting, as she said, is that next to each work there is also a comment by the artist about what inspired him to create this work.
"There are rare exhibitions where contemporary artists deal with the topic of anti-fascism through a contemporary expression, so it was an additional kind of challenge for us. It is important to nurture that collective memory through different forms, and by no means be only in it in one popular way. Young people know what a pentagram is, they love revolutionary romantic heroes, but it's not enough just to love them. They should get to know them better and live that anti-fascist spirit", said Karadzic and expressed the hope that the exhibition will contribute to that anti-fascist spirit.
Bonus video:
