Dušan Džamonja
DUŠAN DŽAMONJA (1928–2009) is one of the most important Yugoslav sculptors. He graduated from, and received his Master’s degree, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. He was a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU). Džamonja left his mark on Yugoslav architecture. His most important works include the Monument to the Revolution in Mrakovica (Kozara, BiH, 1972), measuring 34 x 16 m, Monument to the Revolution in Moslavina (1967) and Monument to the fallen Yugoslav soldiers during the two world wars in Barlett (Italy, 1969). Džamonja united the organic and inorganic world: his sculptures were made from metal, nails, chains, glass, granite and concrete while the form was inspired by the organic, his sculptures dynamically maintained the biorhythm of the living world. He created a new form of abstract expression in architecture with simple shapes: bent prisms, parts spheres and segments of the circle, that vary and rhythmically repeat. He exhibited in a number of independent and group exhibitions in the region, Europe and America, and participated in almost all major art events in the world: Biennale in Venice, “Expo 58” in Brussels, Documenta in Kassel, Sao Paulo Biennial, and so on.
In 1970 he started building a summer house and studio at his estate in Vrsar, it was designed as a fairy-tale sculpture park, which can still be visited today.