FOR ETERNITY

A Word from the Author Isa Orlović on the Work:

The painting For Eternity carries a profound and multilayered message. Beyond its artistic and visual representation, it is a spiritual record rendered in the form of a painted canvas. Within it, three fundamental lines of thought are present: historical, religious, and spiritual—each interpreting the assassination of Đorđe Petrović and all the consequences that this act has left upon the Serbian people, faith, and human conscience.

Depicted in the painting are the three emperors of that era: Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Ottoman. They symbolize the forces that shaped the fate of the world at that time, whose influence continues to affect Serbia to this day. Yet, the key moment in the painting is that none of the figures present are the true executioner. The source of the command comes from the bringer of the eclipse of our Sun.

In addition to the influence of external rulers, the painting also reveals the internal relationship within Serbia at the time, between the leader Đorđe Petrović and Miloš Obrenović. The question arises: Who is the real killer? The servant holding the axe, Miloš, Mahmud, or the power that controls them all?

The eclipse of our Sun is a condition that began after the Battle of Kosovo and lasted for more than four centuries. The first attempt at liberation was the uprising led by Đorđe Petrović. Although the Sun did not fully illuminate the sky, the first rays of light after centuries of darkness are his contribution to eternity.

The powerful message of the painting is embodied in the portrayal of leader Đorđe Petrović in two manifestations—his body dying in the shadows, and simultaneously, the ascension of his spirit as bearer of the flag and torch of freedom—an emblem present in all Serbian uprisings from 1804 to the present—in the light.

Thus, this painting is an open question rather than a definitive statement. It is a work to be perceived not only with the eyes but with the consciousness as well.

A Word from the Painter Damir Savić on the Work:

When Mr. Isa Orlović asked me for assistance in painting his idea on a large-format canvas—an unusual and rather strange one—it initially seemed as though I would refuse this request.

The painting, based on a well-known historical motif, was to be executed technically in the manner of classical realism, while simultaneously combining elements of symbolism and surrealism.

Instead of portraying Karađorđe and his assassin alone, the painting was to depict more than thirty figures who formed the historical framework of that event. However, as our communication progressed by phone, I began to understand Isa’s vision.

When I finally met Mr. Orlović in person—a physician, chess player, master piano tuner, poet, storyteller, visual artist, and philosopher—I realized the breadth of his concept, and the idea of the painting became ever closer to me. The vision took shape over an entire decade, and in the past few years, it has been transposed onto my canvas.

Our two signatures at the bottom of the painting seal the embodiment of a multifaceted work titled For Eternity.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PAINTING