Sculptor

(Čerević, 1920 – Novi Sad, 2005)

Graduated from the Arts Academy in Belgrade. Worked as assistant in Toma Rosandić's master workshop (1949-52). Initiated the conversion of Petrovaradin Fortress into an 'area of culture' starting from 1952. Founder of the Visual Arts Dept. at Novi Sad's Advanced School of Pedagogy. In 1975, appointed assistant professor at the Academy of Arts. Retired in 1981 with  special national pension. He used his studio at the Petrovaradin Fortress continually since 1952. In 1975, granted a building on the medium plateau for " Soldatović Legacy to Novi Sad". Exhibited at many group exhibitions, and over 40 one-man shows, of which we shall mention these: his first one-man show in Belgrade (1952); Exhibition of sculptures in open space of the Petrovaradin Fortress „Prostor 8“ (1955); Exhibition supporting the UN Charter under the auspices of U Tant, by which he protested, together with 10.000 signatories, against the Red Army invasion of Czechoslovakia and Hungary; his figure "Man with a dead child" (10m), was an accusation for the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1968); organized an exhibition at the Fortress under the slogan "If war comes, people will leave" (1972); exhibited at YNA Culture Club in Belgrade, also in support of peace, during the UNESCO session in Belgrade (1981).
In 1990, launched an idea about the permanent international exhibition of sculptures at the Petrovaradin Fortress „Belezi mira“ (Marks of Peace), with one sculpture from each neighboring country and from the countries that had taken part in tragic events during the last decade of the 20th century in our part of the world, so that in the 3rd millennium, the Petrovaradin Fortress would finally enter the UNESCO list of the world heritage.
Monuments and sculptures in public places: More than a hundred of his sculptures have been placed all over the country, and in some of the European cities, as humane messages and signs of peace. One is placed in the United Nations Park in New York City.
Monuments dedicated to the war victims include: „Porodica“ (The Family) Novi Sad; „Spomenik žrtvama NOB-a“ (Monument to the victims of National Liberation War), Žabalj; „Taoci“ (Hostages), Čurug; „Narikača“ (Mourning Woman), Đurđevo; „Suđaje“ (Parcae), Šumarice (Kragujevac); „Materinstvo“ (Motherhood) , Vukovar and  „Sremski front“ (The Srem Front), Šid.
Poets: Branko Radičević (Stražilovo), Jovan Sterija Popović (Vršac), Đura Jakšić (Novi Sad), Jovan Grčić Milenko, Desanka Maksimović, Miroslav Antić, and others.

Represented Yugoslavia in: Alexandra, Biennial (1955); Milan, Famiglia artistica (1956); Brussels, World Expo (1957); Antwerp, Park Midshejm (1959); Paris, Musee Rodin, 3 exp. Internacionale (1961); Alexandra, Biennial (1966); 1972-1981. Regensburg, Bratislava, Helsinki …
Of numerous recognitions and awards, we choose to mention: Politika Newspaper Award, 1958); October Award of the City of Novi Sad (1962); October Salon Award, Belgrade (1970); Order Labour with golden wreath, (1973); Golden Medallion of the Serbian Trade Union, (1978); Golden Medallion of the Šumarice Memorial Park, (1983); Order of Merit for People with golden star, and the 7th-July Award of SR Serbia (1986); Life Achievement Award of SUBNOR Vojvodina (1989) and Vuk Award (1999).