Fenomeni vojvodine / Phenomena of vojvodina
S ituated just twenty kilometres from Belgrade, in the middle of the fairy tale plain of Novi Bano- vci, is the Macura Museum. In a black cube, surrounded by an orchard with ancient varieties of apples and pears, this museum is special in many ways. The architectural solution for the building was inspired by a picture of Cro- atian abstract artist Julije Knifer. The mon- olithic cube is crossed by glass cores, so from the air the Museum looks like a me- ander pattern. Inside, just enough light penetrates to make it appealing for vis- itors and exhibits. Entry is free of charge, though it is nec- essary to announce your arrival, and always to come on weekends, from late spring and until the fresher evenings of early autumn indicate the upcoming arrival of winter. The creator and owner, Vladimir Macura, is al- so the curator and guide through the col- lection, ready to withdraw when necessary and leave the guest to consider and enjoy. He gained his ability to hear and see what is hidden for most on a bicycle. He toured many regions beside the Danube by bike, until finally, 10 years ago, he found the ideal place for a unique museum. Although it initially appears to the vis- itor that the beauty of nature surpasses the work of human hands here, everything in this Museum is in the service of art. Among the fruit trees move sculptures, which emerge from plantations of laven- der and immortelle. Sculptural works sur- round a terrace overlooking the Danube, which is sometimes blue and calm, and sometimes dark, turned into a wild beast. Comprising the basis of the collection are artefacts of zenithism, the avant-gar-
de direction from the beginning of the last century, authentic to the area of the Southeast Balkans. However, another im- portant part of the collection is comprised of chairs and armchairs from the golden period of design. Some of them serve the visitor as places to sit and rest, while some hang on the walls. In a compact array of di- verse seats facing the visitor, chairs are no longer chairs, but rather artworks. This is not an end to the wonders. In some of the numerous rooms, the floor is covered with white gravel or equally shiny stones. Everything is reminiscent of the fact that art is actually an adventure, and those who approach it are adventurers. When designing this specific foun- dation, Macura marked it with the label “My People”, thereby evoking the pioneer- ing spirit of the first modernists.“A special place is taken by Ljubomir Micić, the crea- tor of the Zenithism Manifesto, who creat- ed the idea of barbarogenia,”says Macura, introducing us to the story of the artistic direction also known as Yugo-dada. The notion of barbarogenium marks the hero of the new era, who preserved manhood and strength thanks to his haiduk ances- tors, Balkan outlaws who opposed Turkish rule. And, as such, tough and vital, he has the power to heal Europe, or rather, to re- vitalise its Renaissance values. A good idea is never local, which is why Macura also recognises this same spirit in the works of current local and European art- ists. That’s why the museum’s programme includes exhibitions of contemporary art- ists, but also those who gave us progres- sive ideas. “Every artist who steps in here imme- diately wants to exhibit here or show their
U nekim od brojnih prostorija pod je posut belim šljunkom ili podjednako blistavim kamenjem In some of the numerous rooms, the floor is covered with white gravel or equally shiny stones
Particularly satisfying for Macura, but also his guests, is the realisation that here, at the end of the world, practically beyond reach, visitors have an opportunity to see works characteristic of the world’s greatest museums
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