The exhibition ’Vladan Đorđević – A Portrait of a Tireless Begetter’

In the year dedicated to Academician Vladan Đorđević (b. Belgrade, 1844 – d. Baden bei Wien, 1930), one of the foremost figures of cultural, scientific and political life in the 19th century Serbia, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is preparing the exhibition ’Vladan Đorđević: A Portrait of a Tireless Begetter’ at the SASA Gallery starting on 3 November (at 11 a.m.) until 13 December 2020.

An educated physician and the first Serbian specialist in surgery, Đorđević made significant achievements in the field of health and medicine, however, as a member of the generation of Romantics, he considered the cultural enlightenment of Serbia his duty to his homeland.  He was the first Serbian physician who took an interest in the medical experimental work, initiated the establishment of the Serbian Medical Society (1872) and the Serbian Red Cross (1876), founded and edited the first Serbian professional medical journal and he was the first historian of the Serbian medicine. Being a military physician, he was the chief medical officer of the Health Service of the Serbian Army Supreme Command in the wars (1877/78 and 1885/86), as well as the first professor of hygiene at the Artillery School (precursor of the Military Academy), later becoming the head and reformer of civil health service (1879-1884) and the creator of the first systematic laws on health (1879, 1881). As a mayor of Belgrade, he launched the municipal design of the capital and founded the New Cemetery.

He was active in the political life of Serbia from the late 1870s, initially as a government commissioner and MP in the National Assembly, and then as a minister of education and church affairs, deputy minister of the national economy (1888 – 1889), royal envoy to Athens (1891 – 1894) and Constantinople (1894 – 1897) and prime minister (1897 – 1900).

In the literary field, which he entered in his 14th year, he left numerous works – short stories, dramas, novels and memoirs. He was one of the founders of rural and travel novels, a playwright, chronicler and historiographer.  The bibliography of Đorđević’s works includes 500 works. His journal ‘Otadžbina’ [Homeland] was the best journal of literature, science and culture of the second half of the 19th century.

At the age of 25, he was elected a full member of the Serbian Literary Society (1869), and in 1892 a full member of the Serbian Royal Academy. He lived his life by the personal motto which was Laboremus! (We work!).

The exhibition consists of twelve segments and it contains rich archival records, artworks of the great figures of Serbian realism Uroš Predić and Stevan Todorović, as well as a great number of original editions. The exhibits are part of collections of the National Museum in Belgrade, Belgrade City Museum, Archives of Serbia, Museum of Science and Technology, National Library of Serbia, Belgrade City Library, University Library, Museum of Sports, Red Cross of Serbia, Museum for the History of Pharmacy as well as of the SASA Archives and SASA Library.

The exhibition has been realized in co-organization of the SASA Gallery and the Museum of Science and Technology, while the author team includes: Jelena Jovanović Simić, the exhibition and catalogue authors; Ozarija Marković Lašić and Nebojša Vasiljević, the authors of the exhibition set-up; Ivan Stanić and Dragana Lacmanović, catalogue design authors; Novica Babović, documentary author; Aleksandar Marković, music author and Katarina Živanović, expert associate and exhibition organization.

The goal of this exhibition is to introduce the extraordinary personality of Vladan Đorđević, a tireless begetter and patriot, to the general public through documents, manuscripts, correspondence, artworks and photographs.

 

The showroom of the SASA Gallery is open every day of the week, except Monday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Attendance will be available to a limited number of visitors, in accordance with the area capacity, epidemiological guidelines and restrictions.