Artist Zoran Kardula’s illustrations inspired by the ‘Star Wars’ films and the retro-futuristic 1970s-era Ilinden monument in Krusevo, also known as the Makedonium, are being exhibited inside the monument itself.
Artwork: Zoran Kardula.
‘Star Wars and Makedonium’, an exhibition of illustrations by Zoran Kardula, who comes from the small town of Krusevo in the west of North Macedonia, goes on display on August 4 for two weeks, celebrating the design of the Ilinden monument, also known as the Makedonium.
His artworks will be displayed as part of this year’s ‘Ten Days of the Krusevo Republic’ celebration, which marks the uprising against the Ottoman rule in 1903 and the establishment of the Krusevo Republic, which only lasted for ten days.
The illustrations will be exhibited inside the Makedonium monument in Krusevo, which was designed by architects Iskra and Jordan Grabul and officially opened in 1974.
Kardula remembers the construction of the monument as well as its ceremonial opening, and relates it to his memories of watching the ‘Star Wars’ films at the local cinema.
“Even then, I got the impression that the Makedonium was out of the [Star Wars] series, even though it was built a few years earlier,” he said.
“I am also fascinated by all the monuments dedicated to the National Liberation War [World War II] in Yugoslavia. Their brutalist style makes them seem out of this world,” he added.
Announcing the exhibition, Kardula used a famous phrase from ‘Star Wars’ to pay tribute to his hometown: “Krusevo, may the Force be with you.”
“I remember with nostalgia the years when Krusevo was a city with a much larger population than now, with a rich bazaar, tidy houses and clean streets. A place where young people never left, created families, and saw their future in their hometown,” he explained.
He added that Krusevo has more to offer than the Makedonium monument and expressed concern that the town is being neglected.
“The old Krusevo houses with recognisable architecture have been left to decay,” he said.
Artwork: Zoran Kardula.
Artwork: Zoran Kardula.
Source link: balkaninsight.com
