|
Milan Konjović was born on January 28, 1898. in Sombor,
where he is finished Elementary School and High School.
He has exhibit for the first time in 1914 in High School in Sombor.
He studied paintings since 1919 in Prague, on Academy of fine arts
in class of Vlah Bukovac.
After two terms of studying he continued his studies
in Prague (advance-guard Czech painter refers him to Leonardo),
in Viena and Germans Museums.
In May of 1924 he arrives in Paris and stay there until 1932 until
his final return to Sombor in 1932.
In Paris he made his success on independent exhibits
participated in exhibits of Parisian salons.
In Paris began
his ˝blue phase˝
(1923-1933).
After his return in homeland he
Dedicated to painting of his motherland,
and its landscape, people and environment
with a passion of visionary who to every his work
gives a seal of authentic creative personality.
During summer he paints in Dalmacija (Mlini, Cavtat, Dubrovnik).
During the war 1941 he spent time in captivity in Osnabrik.
After return 1943, 1944 and 1949 originate his pastel works.
Oil paintings with quiet colors which are originate
in 1945 until 1952 consists his ˝gray phase˝.
A year 1953 means turn in his paintings:
on panels of ˝coloristic phase˝ blazes pure intensive color.
New painting orientation has its culmination
and lasting on his works during ˝asocial phase˝(1960-1984).
In 1985 he began with his first variations on
theme of Byzantium art, and until the end of 1990,
begins about thirty paintings of new ˝Byzantium phase˝
with which ends his very rich opus with approximately
6000 paintings, mostly oil painted, and rest of it are
drawings, aquarelles, pastels, graphics, distemper,
tapestry, theatre stenography, abrumation for costumes,
stained glass windows, mosaics and others.
This unique, varieties work asserts
Name of his master with 300 independent exhibits and about 700 with
groups in country and abroad.
His works are proceeds in many galleries and museums in country,
like in significant collections abroad.
In Sombor in 1966. there is Gallery named »Milan Konjović« opened,
where is in chronological postulates and thematic exhibits
presents works which the artist gave to his town.
Fund of Gallery is consists of 1060 works.
For regular member of Academy of science and arts in
Vojvodina he is chosen in 1979, and for scribed member
of Yugoslav academy of science and arts in 1986.
And he is chosen for regular member of
Serbian Academy of science and arts in 1992.
He is a winner of many significant awards and acknowledgments
in country and abroad. He died in Sombor, on 20 of October in 1993.
|
Maybe we could connive
until 1984
Expansive affirmated opinion about that
How Milan Konjović, greatest our colorist
Painter of wheat, our plane pathways, Sombor’s
Highly nourish urbanism and provanses vacation scenery.
That already famous exhibit of his interiors
In closed family circle, which will be loved for sure
By Lukino Viskonti too, shows, in once, every
Coloristic endeavors of Milan Konjović
So refined, so bonar’s misaligned,
So generous that we may talk
About event of decade.
I know, that I was at opening (and shortly
Before opening there was big storm in Sombor
And in the fear of sediments and smithereens
We walked in the middle of the street, sun is
shows its face after all, alike Konjović) counting
Windows and mirrors in those famous Konjović’s interiors.
By the way, in the mirrors too, on those wooden walls,
Reflecting Milan’s paintings.
It that moment is opened a big and exciting question
Of presence of paintings of Milan Konjović in
Every kind of our interiors.
Excluding at once those who
In unsecured property of so-called social
And maybe non – government organization
Often stealthy disappeared from our visual evidence.
I think of great reference which
Konjović’s painting leave as a sign,
Like a beam of light itself, like a window
through the world and light, at first place.
It is well known that Milan, early awake of the
High value of his own palette, powerful holed
Clamp of high prices. No matter if they were
Royal ministries or, in the case of father,
Madlen Albright, Czech ambassadors.
It Is well known he wasn’t giving it away.
But when he donated, he does it with joy of a boy
Who growing up in those old house,
And who’s watching how they build
two of those towers on the Church
left pointed from the tribal state building.
I remember, in big studio, I was admiring
How began a totally bright, bluish painting of tulips
I think it was in the fall of 1984,
And how it is, when I was, in that very year,
Arise in Sombor, Milan was, at first,
almost at the door, outcries:
Now, head of a tribal state, jump.
You have a reason for that.
At that moment, I highly bounded. Tulips were mine.
When he donated or sells it, namely, for refund consignee
His paintings, he does it for somebody’s inconceivable joy.
Like he always wanted to somebody keeps and preserve
That secret flame, that internal warmth, which he is always,
like he is testified, feels like he heard somebody’s approval,
somebody’s voice of maintenance.
Even in gallery » Milan Konjović « says precise evident
about fact to whom and why is painting consigned,
already numbered and named, when it is gifted and shelled,
which always recoil bluffers, forgers and thieves, after him,
excites that way of his paintings which are like pearls,
now on different sides, disseminates and redouble,
practicably some of most interesting routes
requesting our civil tastes, our power, and our serenity.
Have you got Konjović? It is for a long time
matter of prestige, certainly privacy, patrician spirit,
old Vojvodina at last.
Everything is just like we imagine in Radnička 24,
In Gallery » Pro Arte« in December of 2004:
Importance of photography in world of fine art,
Exhibit of one painting, topic Element of water,
Seashells in fall of Kopaonik, little painting which,
With a cup of coffee, covers whole wall,…..
and, now, like exclamation mark, Konjović
who nobody saw. We still know what we want,
and better than that what we don’t.
Red carpet expected you, anyhow.
dr Draško Ređep
|
