MILUTIN RANKOVICH AND YOUNG RUSSIAN ARTISTS Automatic translate

The creative association "Time of the Young XXI" at the Moscow House of Public Organizations regularly organizes exhibitions for young artists. The content of exhibition projects has a pronounced historical and thematic character, has a socio-cultural orientation.

The TO Young Time XXI organization plans to organize and hold, as part of the events dedicated to the Days of Slavic Writing and Culture, an exhibition of works by the original Serbian artist-sculptor Milutin Rankovic from the city of Lajkovac, combined with the works of young Russian artists - students and graduates of art colleges and universities on the topic of Russian and Serbian national culture. The dates of the exhibition are from April 25 to May 16, 2016.

Speaking about the work of Milutin Rankovic, I want to note the extraordinary professionalism in creating wood sculptures, knowledge of Byzantine history and culture. In his sculptures - and these are images of Byzantine and Serbian saints, portraits of old people as symbols of wisdom and female images as a continuation of life - one can feel love for the Serbian land, for its people, respect for the traditions of the Serbian people. Milutin Rankovic is known not only in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, but also in such distant parts of the planet as Australia and New Zealand. On the one hand, this is a secular person who exhibits his works in galleries and museums, conducts master classes, and on the other, a recluse who disappears in forests and rivers in search of rare species of trees. The exhibition will feature his sculptures made of old wood, which has been under water for a long time, between stones, until the master’s hand carved an inspired image.

Traveling to Serbia is a unique opportunity for a creative person, especially for an artist to get impressions that are worth nothing in this profession. For a young artist from Russia, acquaintance with the culture and history of Serbia, visiting exhibitions, fairs, trips to different cities, meeting and communicating with people of different professions who are surprisingly hospitable, sincere and kind - all this ultimately was reflected in the works. They feel the inner kinship of two peoples - Serbian and Russian.

For the past 5 years, young Russian artists have been visiting Serbia, the cities of Belgrade, Laikovac, Valevo, Šabac and others at the invitation of Milutin Rankovic. Meetings are held with the local administration, specially prepared excursions are held, during which Russian creative youth comprehends the life, customs, and national traditions of the Serbian people, which is reflected in the paintings and graphic works of young authors of the Russian classical school - bleached houses with red tiles, burning on blue the sky; temples of Byzantine architecture, yellow spike fields, laid tables under the vineyards.

The exhibition will feature works by young authors created during the summer plein airs in Serbia, as well as paintings glorifying the beauty of Russian nature.

Milutin Rankovic - a view from Serbia

M. Rankovich is an artist of a difficult fate, his talent appeared early, and the first solo exhibition of Milutin’s works took place when he was eighteen years old. Milutin immediately found his direction in spiritual sculpture, but he went a long way in the search for style. During the civil war, in the 90s, he fought in Croatia, and recognized the pathos of confrontation and severe disappointments, but even then did not abandon his calling.

It is known not only in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, but also in such distant parts of the planet as Australia and New Zealand. On the one hand, this is a secular person who exhibits his works in galleries and museums, conducts master classes, and on the other, a recluse who disappears in forests and rivers in search of rare species of trees. The exhibition presents his sculptures made of old wood, which has been under water for a long time, between the stones, until Milutin found it and carved an inspired image…

Generational trends, the traditions of antiquity are not empty words for Milutin. He supports one of the rarest phenomena of the Balkan Peninsula - the Cossacks of the Highlanders. Serbian people tend to unite in small groups, pursuing their artistic and national interests. "Haiduchi Harambasha" (governor of the Cossacks) is his title among the diaspora, where Milutin and his friends gather several times a year, celebrating glory - the day of the saint, standing on the protection of the family, clan, generation. But not only the world recognized this artist. The Serbian church appreciated his talent, the secret rite of the church of Milutin was blessed to serve, and now we can see his sculptures and carved crosses in temples and monasteries.

It would seem that the artist Milutin Rankovich is successful among the public, is involved in the spiritual life of his people, but he still calls himself a traveler, wandering in the "valley of lamentation"…