Bogdan Bogdanović

“The Az W has made an intelligent choice by showing this world in drawings, photographs and documents.”. Kurier, 10.03.2009
“Incomparable to this day in its formal vocabulary.” Der Standard, 06.03.2009

OPENING

Welcome Speech

Dietmar Steiner, Az W Director

Ivan Ristić, curator of the exhibition speaks about
Bogdan Bogdanovićs life

Opening of the exhibition

Kurt Puchinger, Magistratsdirektion Stadtbaudirektion, head of department planing

Bogdan Bogdanović, born in 1922 in Belgrade, is not only the leading architect of memorials in the former multi-ethnic state of Yugoslavia but also an unconventional urbanist, essayist and writer who “built to be able to write, and wrote so that he could build”.

Between 1951 and 1981 Bogdanović completed over twenty memorials throughout Yugoslavia to commemorate the victims of fascism and anti-fascist resistance fighters. Free from ideological insignia, these archaic feeling architectural ensembles invite visitors to linger in contemplation. Bogdanović’s poetic and yet pathos free treatment of sites of destruction are manifested, above all, in the Jasenovac flowers, which stand on the site of what was once a concentration camp.

There are over 12,500 works by the architect in the Az W Collection, including both working designs and surrealist fantasies. Now it is possible to show and follow the working methods and thinking of this ‘architecture philosopher’ for the first time in one comprehensive show.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue Bogdan Bogdanović. Memoria und Utopie in Tito-Jugoslawien, as well as issue 42 of the Az W journal Hintergrund (both in German).

Curator: Ivan Ristić
Project coordination: Monika Platzer
Exhibition architecture: BWM Architekten und Partner
Graphic design: Gabriele Lenz

Publication: Bogdan Bogdanović. Memoria und Utopie im Tito-Jugoslawien
Wieser Verlag, Klagenfurt
Published by: Architekturzentrum Wien
Graphic design: Gabriele Lenz
German edition

Public Funding:
Geschäftsgruppe Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr
Bundesministerium für Unterricht, Kunst und Kultur
Geschäftsgruppe Kultur und Wissenschaft
Sponsor: ARCHITECTURE LOUNGE