Dušan Džamonja: Spomenik oslobođenja Istre

(inauguracija 1951. godine)

Spomenik oslobođenja Istre među prvim je radovima Dušana Džamonje u kojem još nije napustio deskriptivnu interpretaciju, a kako bi u figuralnoj formulaciji anulirao individualne naznake i personalizaciju, posegnuo je za predimenzioniranjem, dok je jasnoću sadržaja postigao realističnim detaljima. Na okomito izduženom monolitnom bloku, u čvrstoj obrisnoj liniji i gotovo u punom plasticitetu modeliran je u raskoraku stojeći muški lik, nadnaravne veličine, snažnog mišićavog tijela, uzdignutih ruku i glave okrenute prema lijevoj ruci smještenoj u udubljenju bloka. Iz gromade većeg kamenog bloka isklesan je lik u stamenoj, statičnoj postavi moćnog tijela oblikovanog u zatvorenim volumenima s narativnim pristupom  obrade anatomskih detalja rječite u svom značenju. Oduzevši mu sve aluzivne atribute (primjerice kapu i oružje) u obličju ovoga krupnoga lika nema druge poruke do divovske snage istaknute dimenzijama anatomskih pojedinosti: divovskih stopala, muskulature nogu, napetog tonusa trbuha, prenaglašeno moćnih, debelih ruku stisnutih pesti. Time je ovaj svevremenski kolos, koji se golom snagom otrže od podloge, kiparskom transpozicijom sveden na sveopći simbol buđenja i oslobađanja. Ova je sugestija potencirana i načinom obrade površina sa zaglađenim formama muške figure koje kontrastiraju grubo obrađenoj podlozi.

Osnovnim odrednicama, tematikom, monumentalizmom, naracijom i punim realitetom ovaj se pazinski spomenik razvrstava u razred angažirane spomeničke plastike. Da je tijekom vremena predstavljao jednu od istaknutih vrijednosti ambijenta, potvrđuje i njegovo reproduciranje na razglednicama Pazina.

Dušan Džamonja, akademski kipar, akademik (Strumica, Makedonija, 31. I. 1928 – Zagreb,  14. I. 2009). Studirao je na Akademiji likovnih umjetnosti u klasama Vanje Radauša i Frana Kršinića, a diplomirao 1951. godine u specijalki Antuna Augustinčića. Zarana je napustio figuraciju. Njegov izniman opus obilježavaju neklasični postupci i materijali u prostorno kompozicijskim rješenjima – memorijalne skulpture, reljefi, skulpture i arhitektonski projekti (izvedeni projekt riječke džamije i islamskoga centra). Osebujnim je stilom realizirao crteže i grafike. Izlažući diljem svijeta svojim je inovativnim radovima i dosezima rano privukao međunarodnu pozornost i dobio brojne međunarodne prestižne nagrade. Dobitnik je Nagrade Vladimir Nazor za životno djelo. Od 2004. bio je član Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti. Džamonja je jedan od najistaknutijih hrvatskih likovnih stvaratelja.

Monument to the Liberation of Istria

Sculptor: Dušan Džamonja, inauguration: 1951

The Monument to the Liberation of Istria is among Dušan Džamonja’s first works in which he has not yet abandoned descriptive interpretation, and in order to annul individual indications and personalization in the figural formulation, he resorted to oversizing, while achieving the clarity of the content with realistic details. On a vertically elongated monolithic block, in a solid contour line and almost in full plasticity, a standing male figure of supernatural size is shown making a step forward, with a strong muscular body, raised arms, head turned towards the left hand located in the recess of the block. Two boulders, a large stone block, and a smaller one, depict a figure in a staid, static setting, with powerful body shaped in closed volumes with a narrative approach to processing anatomical details, which are eloquent in their meaning. Having stripped the figure of all allusive attributes (for example: cap, weapon) in the form of this large individual, there is no other message than giant strength highlighted by the dimensions of anatomical details: giant feet, leg musculature, tense abdominal tone and overemphasized powerful, thick hands with clenched fists. In such manner, this all-time colossus, which is torn from the ground with sheer force, has been reduced to a universal symbol of awakening and liberation by sculptural transposition. This suggestion is also enhanced by the way the surfaces are treated with smoothed forms of the male figure that contrast with the roughly processed base. The basic determinants, theme, monumentalism, narration, full reality, this Pazin monument is classified in the category of engaged monumental plastic. Over time it has represented one of the outstanding values of the environment, which is confirmed by its reproduction on postcards of Pazin.

Dušan Džamonja was an academic sculptor, intellectual (Strumica, Macedonia, January 31, 1928 – Zagreb, January 14, 2009). He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts under Vanja Radauš and Fran Kršinić, and graduated in 1951 in a special class under Antun Augustinčić. He soon abandoned figuration, and his exceptional oeuvre is characterized by non-classical procedures and materials in the spatial compositional solutions of memorial sculpture, relief and sculptures and architectural projects (the executed project of the Rijeka mosque and the Islamic centre). He created drawings and graphics in a distinctive style and has exhibited all over the world, being the winner of a number of prestigious international awards, and the recipient of the Vladimir Nazor Lifetime Achievement Award.  He has been a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts since 2004. Džamonja became one of the most prominent Croatian artists, and his innovative works and accomplishments have attracted international attention.