Kusovac, Saronjic, Stojic
In 2015, I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art in Bgd. offered 3 paintings for sale: Mihailo S. Petrov, Ljubisa Jocic and Vane Bor. A commission made up of museums made up of curators: Erić Zoran, Sretenović, Gvozdenović, Blanuša, Irina Subotić as an advisor and others – decided a few months later to buy the work of Ljubiša Jocić for the sum of 5,000 euros. Their wish was to buy all three works, but since the Museum did not have enough money, they regretfully gave up the other 2 works. On that occasion, I gave the Museum 24 works by artists of that time, which the Museum gratefully received. List and donation agreement known to the editorial office. At the annual award ceremony for the Museum’s donors, I found myself at a celebration where I received a letter of thanks, which I am very proud of.
I also received a photo that was taken from us on that occasion by several donors, the then Minister of Culture Mr. Tasovac and the most important employees of the Museum.
In 2016, I asked the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Serbia for permission to export several works of avant-garde art from the country for sale abroad. Among those works were 2 works that MSU did not buy the previous year. The commission of the Institute, which consists of curators, has determined that these works have a special value, and that they must be referred to the MSU for professional expertise. All that was finally done, I got export permits and sent all that material to the Auction House Zisska and Lacher in Munich by post with customs inspection and insurance. Of course with the contract signed by Mr. Wolfgan Lacher (owner) and me. The agreed starting price for 31 works, according to experts at the auction house, was around 170,000 euros. Auction commission provided that the items are sold in the amount of 25-30%, which would be about 50 thousand euros. On that occasion, as an advance, I received 10,000 euros out of a possible 70,000 thousand, which is the usual advance in the amount of 170,000. I was pleased, considering it fair. (Someone who intended to cheat at any time would of course take 70,000 euros. He would not be satisfied with a miserable 10,000).
After a few months and one month before the start of the auction, the auction house sent about 2,000 excellent catalogs to potential buyers to get acquainted with the material to be sold. Also, one month before the start of the auction, the entire catalog was published on the Internet.
Only two days after the presentation of the catalog, the “dance” begins.
A group of people from (CROATIA, AUSTRIA, GERMANY, FRANCE, AMERICA, etc.) who have been selling Jugo-avant-garde to the white world for years without any export permits, without any Museum opinions or independent written opinions of experts like Mr. Nikola Kusovac the most respected art historian, recognized in all of Serbia. He was friends with Mikhail S. Petrov, among others, and therefore knows the work of this prominent artist best.
So, some of that group are panicking and starting to send “warning” letters to the auction house and the Munich police that these are forgeries done “with one hand”.
It is very interesting that neither the Munich police nor the auction house, 28 days before the start of the auction, despite these reports of alleged forgeries, are doing anything to investigate or withdraw the whole thing from the auction. Only 2 days before the auction, the German police theatrically seized things also under the same explanation from Mr. BOLET’s letter that these were forgeries made “with one hand” (letter known to the editorial office – dated 12.10.2016. Auction starts on 09.11.2016.)
On the 3rd day after the seizure, the German police warned the MSU through auctioneers that the 24 works received by MSU as a gift and the work of Ljubiša Jocić, which were also bought, were forgeries (the editorial office knows the meeting of auctioneers with MSU employees).
The above-mentioned group of traders, as well as the German police, claim that all Serbian curators and experts are corrupt, ignorant and in other words that all our museums are full of forgeries.
The only things in the whole world that have seen European soil according to all the laws of the Republic of Serbia and also according to the laws of Germany are the works handed over for sale to the auction house Zisska and Lacher in Munich. Absolutely from the first to the last 31 pieces original.
The investigation was extended by the German authorities to persons from CROATIA, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, FRANCE, AMERICA, etc. – which has been ravaging European and American soil for the last 20 years, proves and will prove that all these were illegal actions. Not a single item sold in the world in 20 years has a single expert opinion, not a single signed contract, not a single receipt, not a single export license.
Šaronjic who gave the paintings to the auction, Stojić who introduced Šaronjic to the auctioneer, Kusovac who gave his expert opinions, all employed curators at MSU, all employees at the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, ing. Andrić from the Vinča Institute for Nuclear Research, Dr. Irina Subotic, retired MSU advisor – all of them did their job honestly and fairly. As for Germany, they are the least invited to appreciate the authenticity and artistry of the works of Yugoslav painters. They have MRUGALA, and BELTRACI, whose works have significantly enriched the collections of German museums as well as various world collections.