03.12.2012
Exhibition of works by Vasilije Popovic Cico opens
Exhibition of works by Vasilije Popovic Cico opens
Exhibition of works by Vasilije Popovic Cico entitled "A Cartoonist at War 1941-1945" followed also by the promotion of the monograph "Vasilije Popovic Cico" about the famous Macedonian painter, cartoonist, and set designer, was opened in the Small Gallery of the Central Military Club.The setting, made by Ljubica Dabic and Natasa Tomic, the Military Museum curators, is composed of thirty cartoons, five of which are original works, as well as notebooks and original drawings, photographs, books and letters of the artist.
Irina Subotic, PhD, art historian and the book reviewer, Ljiljana Cinkul, the Director of the Graphic Collective Gallery, Ljubica Dabic, senior curator of the Military Museum and Gordana Popovic Vasic, daughter of the artist and editor of the monograph, spoke about the work of Vasilije Popovic Cico.
"In this e
ndeavour, collaborators were Military Museum, the Gallery of Graphic Collective, Odbrana Media Centre, and none of this would be possible without the support of a family of the artists, notably his daughter Gordana Popovic Vasic who carefully kept in his legacy notebooks with cartoons and drawings of her father. I believe that this was the way to pay tribute to Vasilije Popovic", the Director of Odbrana Media Centre Lieutenant Colonel Slavoljub Markovic pointed out, welcoming the guests to the exhibition, which, according to him, confirmed the artistic and exhibition concept of that institution."The book we are promoting tonight has the task not only to show the Macedonian culture to which he belonged, but also to show how the artist was his destiny, work, interests and presence is a characteristic representative of the Balkans. In his cartoons exactly we can see how they reflect the spirit of the times, not only in their contents but also in the way he painted them. They are an indication of the time and autonomous personality of an artist; they have a touch of criticism tending to make the gloomy life somewhat easier" Irina Subotic pointed out, seeking to bring the life and work of the famous artist closer to visitors of the exhibition.
"It is the d
ebt of the family, and also of ours as well as the Macedonian community to present the doyen of this visual culture in the way that he deserves. In his creativity, drawing is a keyword, because, first of all, Vasilije Popovic was an accomplished draftsman. Therefore, it was quite simple for him to move from one genre to another - from drawings, caricatures to scenery", the Director of the Graphic Collective Gallery said noting that the authors succeeded in their conception to answer by this exhibition and the book to the question of the formation and development of the artist , his role models and key moments of creativity.Ljubica Dabic, senior curator of the Military Museum, spoke about the inspiration of the artist’s creativity, emphasizing that the language of cartoons is universal and laconic, and that it is equally easy to understand by people from all over the world.
"Back in the e
arly days of the war, Vasilije Popovic as a lieutenant of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, was captured by the Germans and taken to the camp. In captivity, has created a series of successful and interesting cartoons showing German military senior officers, and common soldiers. Even then, he put in the centre of his creativity a man with all the virtues and flaws. In addition to scenes from captivity, Cico dedicated a part of his creativity to caricatures inspired by Bulgarian occupation, in which he criticized the unacceptable characteristics of individuals, groups and social events. A significant part of the artist's work relates to the criticism of the national liberation war veterans and politicians, which was at that time quite courageous" Ljubica Dabovic said reminding that Vasilije Popovic through his work fought for a better world."It's been 50 years since the death of my father, and this exhibition is a unique opportunity to observe his works in Belgrade. Although he was a Belgrade student, and a good part of his legacy is in this town, he never exhibited in Belgrade", Gordana Popovic Savic pointed out, thanks to all who helped in making the exhibition of works created during his captivity in a prison camp during the Second World War, and a monograph on his life and work.
Vasilije Pop
ovic Cico was born in Skadar on 12 February 1914. He started his work with caricature in 1933 when he started to be interested in the theatre, especially in scenery. He finished art school in Belgrade and as early as in 1939 he began to work as a set designer at the National Theatre, "King Alexander I" in Skopje, where he was employed until 1941. He spent the period from April to November 1941 as a prisoner of war in German camps in Lübeck, Hoenfels and Nuremberg, and during 1944 he was interned in a labour camp in Gorna Dzumaja (Bulgaria). After release from the camp he joined Partisans and worked in AGITPROP at the Headquarters of the NLA in Macedonia. After liberation he became a set designer in the Macedonian National Theatre and held this position until the death in 1962.In order to bring some serenity in the gloomy days in camp, Vasilije Popovic Cico made a series of cartoons. Trying to get closer to each character in an appropriate manner, he drew 77 cartoons, which are found in three volumes, carefully preserved by the artist's daughter, Gordana Popovic Vasic.
That same evening, the "Graphic Collective" opened another exhibition of cartoons by Vasilije Popovic Cica, "A Belgrade student", representing figures from political and public life.The exhibition will be open until 17 December 2012, and according to Gordana Popovic Vasic, an art historian and the editor of this event, its original creator and Popovic's daughter, the aim "is not to get Vasilije Popovic Cico the place which does not belong to him, but not to lose the one that he deserves."
