MAGNOVENJE – A RETROSPECTIVE OF TEN YEARS OF WORK BY VIŠESLAV BERIĆ KODŽA

A retrospective photography exhibition titled “Magnovenje” by author Višeslav Berić Kodža has opened at the Zavičajni muzej Gradiška gallery space.

The exhibition represents a culmination of the artist’s decade-long creative journey and development behind the lens, covering the period from his previous exhibition in the same venue up to the present day.

The showcased works span a wide range of motifs—from striking landscapes where the Sava River takes center stage, to portraits captured in Gradiška, and scenes from Ljubljana, where the artist has been living and working for the past six years.

According to Berić, the title “Magnovenje” symbolizes the very essence of photography—a fleeting second, the blink of an eye, and a frozen moment in time that would otherwise be lost forever without the click of a shutter. He explained that the exhibition is divided into three thematic units that trace his artistic evolution.

The first segment focuses on life along the Sava River and the Sava bridge, which the artist describes as the heart and lifeblood of the city, as well as the place where his artistic beginnings are deeply rooted. The second part presents conceptual photography, exploring deeper layers of expression through visual storytelling, where documentation transforms into idea. The third segment is dedicated to street photography.

This final section is currently at the forefront of the artist’s work, capturing authenticity, raw emotion of passersby, and the geometry of urban life that reflects the rhythm of the modern world.

Berić emphasizes that the exhibition is not merely a presentation of the past decade, but also a testimony to how photography has shaped his way of seeing—from the quiet flow of the river to the fast pace of the streets.

Director of the museum, Bojan Vujčić, expressed great satisfaction in hosting a local artist who now lives in Slovenia, noting that this return through a retrospective exhibition represents a special moment for the audience, offering insight into ten years of artistic growth.

The exhibition will remain open until April 15. Following this, the museum will host a visual arts competition as part of its spring program. Starting April 16, in cooperation with the Museum of Genocide Victims, a new exhibition will open to mark the Liberation Day of Gradiška.

Additionally, a documentary film titled “Preživjeli” (“The Survivors”), produced by the museum, is scheduled for promotion on May 8, commemorating Victory in Europe Day.