REVEALING THE TOWER OF ETERNITY

Abstract

This work for the first time presents and discusses the virtually unknown 1968 collage The Tower of Eternity by Serbian painter Pedja Milosavljevic. The article seeks to uncover the reasons as to why this obviously politically engaged work was never exibited, nor reproduced. In this exploration, special attention is given to Prince Paul Karadjordjevic and Josip Broz Tito – two remarkable rulers and personalities in their own right – both of whom were of great personal significance for the artist’s life and career. Analysing the antropomorfic structure of the Tower of Eternity and its montage, the work’s poetic impact is underlined. The face of the antropomorfic structure is that of Prince Paul, whilst Tito is represented at the place of the State Order of Merit, with an inserted prison plate from Frank Sinatra’s infamous mugshot. Quoting from the artist’s own numerous articles, in which he writes his views on the philosophies of art and life, this text uncovers the collage’s documentary backbone and it’s poetic message – a critical analysis of Yugoslavia’s controversial past.