Opening of the Exhibition “Veljko Vlahović – The Voice of Free Yugoslavia”

The Museum of Yugoslavia invites you to the opening of the exhibition “Veljko Vlahović – The Voice of Free Yugoslavia” on May 29 at 6 p.m., organized in collaboration with the National Museum of Montenegro and curated by Božena Miljić and Ljiljana Karadžić.

The exhibition chronologically and thematically explores key historical events that Veljko Vlahović witnessed and participated in, such as the student protests of the 1930s, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II. It also delves into his social and political engagement in postwar Yugoslavia, while simultaneously mapping aspects of his private life to the extent that they shaped his political path. The exhibition’s title is inspired by the period Vlahović spent in Moscow during World War II, where he worked as the editor of Radio Free Yugoslavia, which broadcast in Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian, and several European languages.

Alongside valuable materials from the legacy of Veljko Vlahović preserved by the National Museum of Montenegro, the exhibition also features objects from the collections of the Museum of Yugoslavia, the Archives of Yugoslavia, and Radio Belgrade. Through archival documents, personal belongings, photographs, audio recordings, and artworks, visitors will have the opportunity to discover the fascinating life story of a revolutionary, member of the International Brigades, and prominent political figure of socialist Yugoslavia.

This exhibition is an adapted version of “On the Side of Justice and Freedom: The Legacy of Veljko Vlahović”, originally presented in 2018 at the National Museum of Montenegro in Cetinje, curated by Božena Miljić and Ljiljana Karadžić. With the curatorial input of Dušica Stojanović and Ljubica Vlahović from the Museum of Yugoslavia, the concept has been partially revised and further enriched. The exhibition space at the 25 May Museum was designed in collaboration with the architectural studio Turbina and designer Mane Radmanović, creating a visual and sonic presentation that balances between private and public spheres, the culture of remembrance, and historical oblivion.

As the central institution for Yugoslav heritage and social history, the Museum of Yugoslavia continues its series of exhibitions made possible through successful collaborations with institutions from the region.