Page 8 - Catalogue English.cdr

MOSAIC
“SUTJESKA”

1962, 1st floor, staircase

The dominant item of the central staircase ar-
rangement is the mosaic “Sutjeska”, artwork
of Slovenian painter Marij Pregelj. The size of
the mosaic is 90 m2. The subject of the mosa-
ic is one of the most significant battles of the
Second World War in this part of Europe. In
accordance with the theme, the mosaic con-
tains multitude of human figures in some sort
of procession which is to be read from left to
right. In a dramatic manner, the mosaic depicts
the diffculties met by the procession of the
wounded and partisans with the army in the
background, numerous wounded on stretch-
ers, nurses, people, and women with children
in their arms. The procession is followed by nu-
merous other threats and menaces like hun-
ger, drowning in rivers, wolves’ attack on peo-
ple and horses. Even though the theme was set
and made with a lot of pathos and drama this
work of art does not belong to the dictate of
the socialist regime. Motion, spasm and mo-
mentum depict the awareness and idea of the
importance of each individual in contributing
to the collective success which is the essential
message of Pregelj’s work.
Mostly natural stone was used for the creation
of this artwork and it is assumed that this part
of the process of the creation of this artwork
was entrusted to Italian artist Alfio Tombaso.
There are two mosaic pillars made of small
stones coated with “katerini gold” as the equiv-
alent to the monumental mosaic. “Tito’s offi-
ice” and offices of two vice presidents of the
Council are located in this part of the staircase
which, today, serve as premises of the presi-
dent of the Republic of Serbia. There is a gold
plated brass plate dedicated to the First Con-
ference of Non-Aligned Movement on the wall
in front of the “Beograd” Hall.

Two mosaic pillars made of small stones coated
with “katerini gold” in the ceremonial hall across the
monumental mosaic “Sutjeska” by Marij Pregelj