SANU to Exhibit Serbian Art from World War II Era

The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) is set to unveil a significant exhibition exploring the artistic landscape of Serbia during the tumultuous years of World War II. Titled "Even in Captivity – Freedom! Serbian Art during World War II," the exhibition will open its doors on Tuesday, August 4, and will be accessible to the public until September 20.

Curated by Irina Tomić, the exhibition aims to present the diverse creative output across various art forms, including visual arts, applied arts, architecture, photography, and film. The works featured were produced from the outbreak of war in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941, through to Germany's capitulation on May 9, 1945. SANU announced that the collection will not only highlight art created within Serbia's borders but also the contributions of artists who were in captivity or on free territories outside the country.

Nearly 300 exhibits have been gathered from numerous museum institutions across Serbia. These include contributions from the National Museum of Serbia, the Museum of the City of Belgrade, the Legat House, the Museum of Yugoslavia, the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection, the National Museum in Užice, and the National Museum in Smederevska Palanka. The exhibition will feature renowned artists such as Paja Jovanović, Uroš Predić, Beta Vukanović, Petar Dobrović, Jovan Bijelić, Sava Šumanović, Zora Petrović, Đorđe Jovanović, Đorđe Andrejević Kun, Petar Lubarda, Majda Kurnik, and Miloš Bajić, among others. Works by amateurs from camps and battlefronts will also be displayed.

The collected works are described as heterogeneous, and the exhibition is organized into typological sections. The overarching goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the most important artistic movements and phenomena that emerged during the occupation and as its direct consequence. This exhibition promises a deep dive into a critical period of Serbian history through its artistic expressions.