Balkan monuments: PHOTO BOOK Spomeniky
3 photographers and 21 monuments in 30 days. Our quest leads to amazing Balkan post-WWII monuments.
David Rubek, Šimon Levitner and Petr Pustina are the group of visual artists and photographers formed around the simple ambition. To capture vanishing relics of mankind history. Their first trip leads to Balkan post-WWII monuments in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.
Didn’t heard about the Balkan “spomeniks” yet? Then check them out on Pinterest or on our Facebook Page. Sure, you’ll love them. We are going to shoot these amazing monuments, but also process information on the construction of these sculptures, to look for the stories of their creators, to do interviews with witnesses and their family members. And we – our group and you, the supporters on Indiegogo, will self-publish the beautiful book.
Petrova Gora concept by Vojin Bakić (1974, completed 1981)
During our 30 days Balkan trip, we will visit 21 monuments in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.
Our aim is to achieve a technically and aesthetically perfect photographs that can serve as a record of current state of the monuments (some of them were abandoned and more or less devastated). We will shoot the monuments on medium format film on Sinar camera, which brings indisputable advantages for architectural photography.
We will also create a smaller batch of collector’s prints, enlargements and posters shot on black and white negatives, exclusively for you, the supporters on Indiegogo (see featured perks bellow). Also, as a backer you will receive a PDF version of the book, regardless the chosen perk. Every backer will get PDF version of the book.
Jasenovac monument, artwork by Šimon Levitner
We believe in free culture. That’s why we will publish all* photographs taken during our balkan trip in the extended free library on our website under creative commons license, that anybody can freely use the photographs in their works.
*except 6 photographs reserved for collector’s prints (see Perks)
With your support, we can make it happen. The real book, the beautiful one. Please, pre-order the book here on Indiegogo or grab some other perks. Together, we can make it happen.
— Featured perks —
Postcards from our collector’s edition, featuring original Spomeniky artworks by Šimon Levitner. Get one, set of six, or whole 21 pcs set.
Kosmaj monument, artwork by Šimon Levitner
Follow us on Instagram or check the updates here on Indiegogo out regularly to see more artworks
100 pcs limited edition of 6 photographs taken by Šimon Levitner in a postcard format, packed in original Spomeniky envelope.
100 pcs limited edition of 6 signed photographs taken by David and Šimon during the shooting of “Klement Gottwald-Communist Terrorist” music video (see the music video bellow) for Michael Kocáb – musician, who’s band was banned by Czechoslovak communist regime and who after the Velvet revolution became the leader of a Parliament commission which negotiated the repatriation of Soviet soldiers from then-Czechoslovakia.
100 pcs limited edition of 6 photographs taken by David Rubek and Šimon Levitner when they were shooting the “Underwater” music video (see the music video bellow) feat. Nick McCabe (The Verve, Black Submarine) in London.
Unique set of three prints featuring artworks for the ‘Intercontinental cyber-band’ Die alten Maschinen. Frames not-included. See the music video bellow.
10 pcs limited lambda print. Photo by Šimon Levitner. Frame not-included.
Lambda print of Šimon Levitner’s artwork. Frame not-included. ONLY 1 COPY