Painter Aleksandar Lukovic Lukijan dies

BELGRADE - Prominent painter and graphic artist Aleksandar Lukovic Lukijan died in Belgrade at the age of 91, the Museum of Contemporary Art released on Tuesday.

Lukovic was active for a number of years in the management of the Belgrade Graphic Collective and he also worked as professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade.

Lukovic's work is marked mainly by motifs of funfair tents, circus arenas and clowns as a unique metaphor for human weakness and limitations, all imbued with a deep sense of irony.

Lukovic published four full-colour lithograph maps, including 'Cirkus na Ulici' (The Circus in the Street, in 1955), 'Klovnovi' (The Clowns, in 1955), 'Igre Klovnova' (Clown Games, in 1957) and 'Cirkus' (The Circus, in 1976) and a map of copperplate engravings entitled 'Optimist' (Optimist, in 1987).

Together with the international group of graphic artists XYLON, Lukovic exhibited his works in many cities in Europe, Asia and South America.

Accademia Fiorentina delle Art del Disegno in Italy appointed Lukovic an honorary member in 1963.

Lukovic's work is part of the collections in the National Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, gift collection of Rajko Mamuzic in Novi Sad and museums in many Serbian cities.

The painter's works are also part of private collection sin Berlin, New York, Karakas, Lucerne and London.