Loading...
Done
The brutalist war memorials found throughout the former Yugoslavia were weird enough when they were built in the 1960s and 70s. Today, separated by the end of an architectural movement and the disintegration of the country, they seem almost alien. Belgian photographer Jan Kempenaers treats them purely as artistic objects in his book, “Spomenik”, named for the Serb-Croat word for monument. Known for photographing geographical oddities, Kempenaers was captivated by the spomenik after seeing them in an art encyclopedia. After hearing that many had been destroyed or abandoned, he set out to record what was left.


The monument of Ilirska Bistrica was designed by Janez Lenassi and built in 1965. It is dedicated to Slovenian soldiers that fell in World War II. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

The monument of Ilirska Bistrica was designed by Janez Lenassi and built in 1965. It is dedicated to Slovenian soldiers that fell in World War II. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




The Petrova Gora monument was designed by Vojin Bakić and built in 1982. It was dedicated to the people of Kordun and Banija who died during World War II. It was dismantled in 2011. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

The Petrova Gora monument was designed by Vojin Bakić and built in 1982. It was dedicated to the people of Kordun and Banija who died during World War II. It was dismantled in 2011. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




The Susanjar Memorial Complex in Bosnia and Herzegovina was created in remembrance of the thousands killed by Germans during the Orthodox festival of Ilindan in 1941. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

The Susanjar Memorial Complex in Bosnia and Herzegovina was created in remembrance of the thousands killed by Germans during the Orthodox festival of Ilindan in 1941. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




The Kruševo Makedonium monument in Macedonia was dedicated to the Ilinden Uprising of 1903, when the Bulgarian population revolted against the Ottoman Empire. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

The Kruševo Makedonium monument in Macedonia was dedicated to the Ilinden Uprising of 1903, when the Bulgarian population revolted against the Ottoman Empire. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




Built in 1963, this monument in Niš, Serbia commemorates the 10,000 people from the area that were killed during World War II. The three clenched fists are the work of sculptor Ivan Sabolić. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

Built in 1963, this monument in Niš, Serbia commemorates the 10,000 people from the area that were killed during World War II. The three clenched fists are the work of sculptor Ivan Sabolić. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




This monument is dedicated to the soldiers who freed the city of Knin, Croatia from the fascists during World War II. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

This monument is dedicated to the soldiers who freed the city of Knin, Croatia from the fascists during World War II. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




This monument, authored by sculptor Miodrag Živković, commemorates the Battle of Sutjeska, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II in the former Yugoslavia. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

This monument, authored by sculptor Miodrag Živković, commemorates the Battle of Sutjeska, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II in the former Yugoslavia. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




This one in Košute, Croatia is dedicated to those that died in World War II and the Croatian War of Independence. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

This one in Košute, Croatia is dedicated to those that died in World War II and the Croatian War of Independence. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




The Kadinjača Memorial Complex commemorates those who died during the Battle of Kadinjača. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

The Kadinjača Memorial Complex commemorates those who died during the Battle of Kadinjača. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




Built in 1949, this one was designed by Vojin Bakić and is dedicated to the fallen fighters of the Yugoslav front. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

Built in 1949, this one was designed by Vojin Bakić and is dedicated to the fallen fighters of the Yugoslav front. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




This sculpture was built in 1973 and designed by Bogdan Bogdanovic. It is dedicated to the long mining tradition in Kosovo. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

This sculpture was built in 1973 and designed by Bogdan Bogdanovic. It is dedicated to the long mining tradition in Kosovo. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




The Kosmaj monument in Serbia is dedicated to soldiers of the Kosmaj Partisan detachment from World War II. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

The Kosmaj monument in Serbia is dedicated to soldiers of the Kosmaj Partisan detachment from World War II. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)




This monument is in Korenica, on the border of Croatia and Bosnia. It commemorates Yugoslavia’s victory in World War II. It has reportedly since been torn down. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)

This monument is in Korenica, on the border of Croatia and Bosnia. It commemorates Yugoslavia’s victory in World War II. It has reportedly since been torn down. (Photo by Jan Kempenaers)
18 Aug 2014 09:07:00