08.05.2025.
Exhibition “Victory and Freedom” opens at Central Military Club
An exhibition titled “Victory and Freedom”, organized by the Public Relation Department’s Media Centre “Odbrana”, opened today at the Central Military Club’s Grand Gallery to mark 80 years since the ending of the Second World War.
The exhibition showcases works of fine and applied arts inspired by the People’s Liberation War from the Central Military Club’s rich collection created by the most important 20th century artists who lived and worked in the territory of Yugoslavia. The exhibition opening was attended by State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Mile Jelić, acting Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Nebojša Nikolić, acting Assistant Minister for Defence Policy Predrag Bandić, Rector of the Defence University Brig. Gen. Boban Đorović, and other guests.
The exhibition was opened by the director of Media Centre “Odbrana”, Colonel Asst. Prof. Miljan Milkić, Ph.D., who in his address spoke of the works inspired by the People’s Liberation War, but also of the symbolism contained in the name of the exhibition.- Victory and freedom are two words that define the Second World War and our participation in it. The memory of the victory over fascism is not only a memory of the past, but a call for us to be guardians of freedom in the present and the future. Eighty years later – it is up to us to remember. To know that we are steadfast, that we do not give up, that we fight for the right values of our civilization – that we are winners – said Colonel Milkić.
The author of the exhibition, Senior Curator and Head of the Central Military Club Gallery, Jelena Knežević, noted that the Gallery of the Central Military Club of the Yugoslav People’s Army was opened in 1953 and that the event titled “Fight for Liberation in the Works of Yugoslav Fine Artists” was established there.- This event was held every five years and involved artists such as Mića Popović, Branko Miljuš, Đorđe Andrejević Kun, Petar Lubarda, Voja Stanić, true representatives of fine arts of the second half of the 20th century. No matter what style of art they pursued, no matter their personal sensibilities, they all created engaged art, art dedicated to people, art dedicated to the reconstruction of the country for two and a half decades under this roof. The exhibition we are opening today is titled “Victory and Freedom” because it takes us back to 1985 when the last exhibition dedicated to the People’s Liberation War was held and you will see true fine art gems – said the author of the exhibition.
Among the displayed works of art, there are works by the greatest fine artists of the second half of the 20th century that make valuable artistic legacy important for understanding Yugoslav art created in the first decades after the liberation.
The exhibition “Victory and Freedom”, which commemorates another date, the day of the establishment of the Central Military Club of the Yugoslav Army – May 8, 1946, will be open to public until July 8.
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