Yugoslav Monuments by Jan Kempenaers

The Kosmaj monument in Serbia is dedicated to soldiers of the Kosmaj Partisan detachment from World War II.

Spomenik, The Monuments of Former Yugoslavia 
The brutalist war memorials found throughout the former Yugoslavia were weird enough when they were built in the 1960s and 70s. Today, separated by the end of an architectural movement and the disintegration of the country, they seem almost alien.
Belgian photographer Jan Kempenaers captured Yugoslav monuments as artistic objects in his book, Spomenik, named for the Serb-Croat word for monument.
Thousands of the monuments were commissioned by dictator Josip Broz Tito to commemorate the resistance against Axis invaders during World War II. The abstract style stood in contrast to socialist realism and also served a political purpose.
"Tito couldn't erect figures or busts in honour of generals because he didn't want to be seen to be favouring any ethnic group, for example a Bosnian general or a Serb war hero, so instead they made these things that didn't refer to people." 
Although the monuments, made of reinforced concrete, steel, and granite, used to be tourist attractions, they have receded into obscurity since the fall of the Soviet Union and the Yugoslav Wars. When Kempenaers told locals what he was photographing, he says they thought he was crazy.

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Photography © Jan Kempenaers http://www.jankempenaers.info

Brijuni Islands and Tito

During my holiday in Istria (Croatia) I have visited the Brijuni Islands, also known as Tito's Brijuni. The visit to the islands is really a worth spending a day trip. Beside the natural beauty of this national park you can sense Ancient Roman history and some vintage ex-Yugoslavia nostalgia.

The Brijuni Islands are a group of fourteen small islands in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea, separated from the west coast of the Istrian peninsula by the narrow Fažana Strait.

Yugoslavian president Marshal Josip Broz Tito made the Brijuni Islands his personal State Summer Residence. Almost 100 foreign heads of state visited Tito on his islands, along with film stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren, Carlo Ponti, and Gina Lollobrigida. Tito died in 1980, and by 1983 the islands were declared a National Park of Yugoslavia.
One of the main sights is the 'stuck in time' Tito's museum. This is really a fascinating exhibition, where it literally feels like the time has stopped. The photo exhibition Josip Broz Tito on Brioni, which was opened in 1984 visually presents the activities of the Yugoslav president on the island from June 20, 1947 when he first arrived here until the very last day of his stay, August 29, 1979 when he left the Brijuni wharf to participate in the 6th Summit of nonaligned countries in Havana.
On the island there is also a Safari Park, it is home to a variety of exotic animals which were given to the park as gifts from diplomatic partners. The Nilgai, Zebu and Asian Elephant were donated as a gift from India (by Indira Gandhi), Plains Zebra and Mountain Zebra were given by Ahmed Sékou Touré from Guinea, Waterbuck came from Ethiopia.
But the most memorable encounter is with the legendary Koki, the well-known Tito’s parrot; one of the rare exemplars of yellow-crested cockatooes which live up to 100 years and belong to big species of parrots. It is a very intelligent, sociable and gendle species of bird which likes bathing. Koki was a gift that Josip Broz Tito made to his granddaughter Aleksandra – Saša Broz for her 9th birthday.

The Islands are a strange combination of history, heritage and stunning nature but very fascinating.
http://www.brijuni.org