superficiality, the neglect of the soul of the planet, the population, its fish, birds, everything is out of control and exposed to destruc- tion. Just look at how many forests have burned down... how much of a wound that is for the planet,”warned Olja. She strove for the universe long before man was catapulted into space. Astronauts populated her pictures as soon as they appeared, while two real spacemen, a Russian and an American, met in person at her studio in Belgrade, at Kosančićev Venac 19. The daughter of Russian exiles, Vasilij Vasiljenko Ivanjicki and Veronika Mihailovna Pyotrovske, she was born in 1931 in Pančevo, raised in Kragujevac and spent her adult life in Belgrade, where she loved a lot and where she died on 24 th June 2009. At her studio met artists and art lovers, foreign guests and diplomatic representatives... Olja Ivanjicki turned her studio, which was also her only liv- ing space, into a unique place, her microcosm from which she ad- dressed the stars, the universe and Leonardo da Vinci, who was her inspiration. She loved Leonardo, but she forever remained in love with one man, painter and philosopher Leonid Šejka. She chose social event where he would appear, and her pres- ence never went unnoticed. She also dealt with fashion in her own way. She wore outdated fashion in a ways that only she knew how to do, which is why her appearances in gold, silver, sequined and la- cy creations are remembered. Like many women, she adored shoes, but she managed to find the most unusual pairs. Those who knew her say that was distinctive, true to herself, while at the same time ex- tremely simple and always hungry for knowledge. In her later years she took private philosophy lessons in order to be able to more clear- ly express her thoughts. She wrote a lot, but always stressed that she most loved being a painter: “Only in painting does everything depend on me,” she said in one of her last interviews.
Uživala je da čaj i kafu pije iz najlepših šoljica
Her exposed legacy is under the care of the Historical Muse- um of Serbia. - The exhibition “The Legacy of Olja Ivanjicki” represents the most comprehensive cross-section of Olja’s diverse artistic creativ- ity assembled to date. It is conceived in such a way that visitors ex- perience a great adventure while viewing this rich collection of her paintings and private items. On more than 1,500 square metres is exposed only part of the pictures and personal items that were to be found in her 38-square-metre studio and living space - says Duši- ca Bojić, director of the museum. Tijana Jovanović Češka, museum advisor and author of the ex- hibition, knew Olja personally for more than two decades. - It’s difficult to describe Olja. She was a hedonist, but at the same time very business-like, organised and precise. With her ap- pearance, she knew how to cast a shadow over an event she at- tended. She was a world-renowned artist, but she remained here – said the author of the exhibition, before insisting that Olja’s studio in Kosančićev Venac, which is now vacant, must become an impor- tant point on the artistic map of Belgrade.
She enjoyed drinking tea and coffee from the most beautiful cups
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