HOW A MONTENEGRIN ARTIST CONNECTED OSOVICA AND HILANDAR

Academic painter Jelena Vušurović from Cetinje has created 17 artworks in oil on canvas, featuring the monastery of Hilandar, which will adorn the premises of the Osovica Monastery.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

Vušurović, who has been the artistic director of the art and environmental colony in Bardača for many years, stated that this is her second series of paintings dedicated to the Orthodox holy site near Srbac. Two years ago, she painted 14 portraits of Serbian patriarchs for the monastery.

"In Osovica, there had been a long-standing exhibition of photographs of Serbian patriarchs and the Hilandar Monastery, which I decided to transfer to canvas. The idea came from Radovan Mitraković, the director of the Srbac Center for Culture and Sport. I created the first series of paintings in Bardača, and the latest on the banks of the Sava River near Srbac. I am very proud to have had the honor of being part of this project," Vušurović said.

Painting on the theme of Hilandar represented a significant responsibility for her, as it is a monastery that women are not allowed to visit.

Thus, she relied solely on photographs and others' perspectives and experiences. This, as she mentioned, was quite challenging, but the suggestions from knowledgeable individuals who had visited Mount Athos were very helpful.

"The theme is not unfamiliar to me because every academic painter must acquire a broad knowledge that spans from prehistory to contemporary art. However, it is quite different from what I usually create, as I mostly work on extensive abstractions with motifs of bulls. Here, the focus was pure realism. Nevertheless, I had the peace and concentration I needed, and through this work, I have grown spiritually," Vušurović shared.

This exceptionally talented and knowledgeable artist said that she enjoys visiting Srbac often and that the Osovica Monastery holds a special place in her heart. She is eager to participate in other projects that can contribute to this local community and the monastery complex.

"My collaboration with Osovica has become personal. I travel a lot and often comment that this is one of the most beautiful monasteries. I am deeply grateful to Archimandrite Teofil Dimitrić, the abbot of the monastery, for his extraordinary contribution to its restoration. Together with my friends from Montenegro, I regularly visit, and we are always equally amazed, both by the sacred site and the wonderful people living in Srbac," Vušurović emphasized.

The creation of artworks for the Osovica Monastery was supported by numerous donors from Srbac and Banja Luka, who covered the costs of materials, accommodation, and the work of the Montenegrin artist.

An exhibition of the works inspired by the Hilandar Monastery, titled “Sublimation of the Synergy of Osovica Monastery,” will be presented to the public on October 13 at the Uglješa Kojadinović Cultural Center in Srbac as part of the celebration of the town’s Patron Saint Day and Srbac Municipality Day. The exhibition will open at 6 PM, and the formal ceremony, during which the highest municipal awards will be presented, is scheduled for 7 PM.