05. What’s a Spomenik?

Nicole Rivera
Apr 19, 2019
2 min read

***general disclaimer: to my extreme dissatisfaction, the blog app I am using is absolutely awful, horrible, next to worthless. Wix.com I hope you see this. Anyway- I cannot format and edit photos with my text on the go in the same way as I can on a computer and it’s infuriating. I would really love to be able to document and catalog my experience in a compositional and orderly way but you know ... we can win every battle. so please forgive the dumping of photos and straight forward text... until I can figure out a better way

Spomenik is the Serbo-Croatian word for memorial.

The abstract compositional sculptures were commissioned mostly by the former yogoslavian government to celebrate their victories or to honor the fallen and lost during their various battles. Today was the start of our Spomenik tour and what a way to start. I could probably write pages and pages about the phenomenal and emotional experience these sculptures and spaces conjure... but I’ll just leave you with this simple text and lots of eye candy.

I really love this part of the world and again have to vocalize that I am blessed and honored to Be here. In addition to my architectural adventure- I’ve already made great friends and met awesome people from all over the world.

Some logistical things you might be wondering about: our trip is basically a road trip. We stay in a different hotel each night traversing through cities and villages across three countries. I am bunking with a lovely girl from Canada named Maddy and we have hit it off so well that other people in the group assumed we were friends before coming here!! There’s a group of childhood friends, two couples, Maddy and I and one other guy are the three solo travelers and our guide Darmon is smart, knowledgeable, and fun. We have a Serbian guide named Slobodan also who will be joining us the whole trip Helping to translate but also because he’s interested In The history and narrative of the Spomeniks and is excited to join the tour even after we leave Serbia.

I am the only architect on the trip and the only one who totes around with sketchbook in hand. I am am not used to being in this unique position as most of the time I am traveling with other architects...it is very humbling and exciting when people show interest in my drawings and notes.

I’m happy, eating well (don’t worry dad!!) and really really loving my life right now.

Now here’s that eye candy I promised:

Monument to the Fallen Soldiers of the Kosmaj Partisan Detachment:

The 87-step stairway of crumbling stone creates a pilgrimage up towards the monument. The view from the bottom of the steps through the trees gave us a visual tease of the sculpture’s grandeur and beauty. Tears were brought to my eyes upon reaching the monument.