Photographer Jonk is passionate about eccentric deserted places all around the world. Jonk releases his second book named Spomeniks which took us in search of old statues in the Balkans erected in the 60s and 70s. In the former Yugoslavia language, Spomenik means memorial or monument.
He explains «Today, some 30 years after the fall of Yugoslavia, most have been demolished. Among those still visible, some are in perfect condition and are part of proper facilities, some are more or less maintained, others are clearly abandoned or even in ruins»
Of course, it wasn’t easy. As a result of long-term studies through Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia and Slovenia, the artist was able to release this matchless publication.
Besides being an example of brutalist art, Spomeniks gives us so many information about these structures which are real witnesses of time though sometimes curiously futuristic.
The Podgaric Monument in Croatia symbolized power and triumph
Bubanj Memorial Park in Serbia
Užice and Kadinjača Memorial Complex
The Monument to the Uprising of the People of Kordun and Banija at Petrova Gora in Croatia
The “Stone Flower” monument in Croatia
The Tjentište War Memorial in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kozara Memorial Monument
The spaceship-like Kosmaj Monument in Serbia