Stomnik: The forgotten monuments of the former Yugoslavia

Stomnik is a series of monumental sculptures and monuments lost in memories, all over the former Yugoslavia.

During the 1960s and 1970s, hundreds of monuments commemorating the Second World War called “Somaniks” were built throughout the former Yugoslavia. These monumental concrete sculptures and angular geometry recall the forms of flowers, crystals and viruses or DNA.

In the 1980s, the Stomniks were still attracting millions of visitors from the Eastern Block. Today, they are largely abandoned and unknown, their lost and unwanted symbol.

Belgian photographer of Antwerp Jan Kempenaers visited the Balkans photographing these mysterious works, which are presented in his book Stomnik . The photos of this artist revive these statues and form a route through the former Yugoslavia. We can now see them as truly sculptures of art.

All the photos below come from the official website of Jan Kempenaers .

The Partisan monument in Kosmaj

Monument to Tjentište

Bubanj Memorial Park in Niš

Kadinjača Memorial

Petrova Gora

Monument to the Revolution (Džamonja) in Podgarić

Kozara

Monument of Kosovska Mitrovica

Sanski Most

Jasenovac

Kruševo

Grmeč

Korenica

Makljen

Kolašin

Brezovica

Ostra

Zenica

Sisak

Sinj

Ilirska Bistrica

Knin

Nikšic

Today the former Yugoslavia was divided into seven countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia. These giant sculptures are spread throughout the Balkans.