Art between the two World Wars

A. Literature

Kocho Solev Ratsin (108 - 1943) was born in Veles. He came from a poor terra cotta family. He spent most of is life in and out of prisons. He died in the partisans on the mountain Lopushnik. He was a poet, narrator, essayist, and publisher. He also did research on Macedonia's cultural and political history. Beli Mugri (White Dawns), his single poetry book was published in 1939 in Samobor.

Kole Nedelkovski (1912 - 1939) was born in the village of Voynitsa, near Veles and was the son of a painter. He began his role in literature after the year 1937 when he became part of the Macedonian literary society in Sofia. He published to poetry books: M'skavitsa (1940) and Pesh po svetot (1941). He died as a rebel in the resistance against fascism.

Venko Markovski (1915 - 1988) published poetry inspired by national and social circumstances. His poetry books Narodni bigori (Popular …), Ognomet (Fireworks), Lulkina pesna (Lullaby Song), Lunya , were published between 1938 - 1941. The poems Gotse (Goce), Iliden, Chudna e Makedonia (Strange is this Land of Macedonia), Vie dvanaeset (The Twelve of You). He worked as a playwright in Macedonian National Television in the period beyween 1946/48 and 1949/53.

Vasil Ilyoski (1902, Krushevo - 1995, Skopje) had a higher education and worked as pedagogue, member of MANU, a playwright, a scinetist and essayist. His comedy Lenche Kumanovche (Begalka) (Lenche of Kumanovo, Runaway Bride) is the first pies performed in the period between the two World Wars in 1927/28 by a Macedonian author. Other renowned comical pieces are Chorbaji Teodos (1962), Svadba (A Wedding) (1976). He also wrote Chest (Honor) (1953) and Pishi Panche (1947).

Vojdan Chernodrinski (1985, Seltse - 1951, Sophia) has an opulent creative opus dedicated entirely to Macedonia. In Sophia, he formed the literary circle for dramaturgy Makedonski zgovor and later the traveling theatre Skrb i Uteha. He is the author of the plays Drvari, Vo meanata (In the Tavern), Na nova godina (On New Year's Day), Robot i agata (The Slave and the Aga), Od glavata si patime (We suffer from our Head), Zlo za zlo (Bestow Malice Procure Malice) and Makedonska krvava svadba (A Gory Macedonian Wedding), the most significant piece in Macedonian literature. He also wrote the first Macedonia opera Sreshta (Happiness).

Anton Panov (1905, Doyrn - 196, Strumitsa) was a chorus singer of the Belgrade opera. He wrote the plays Pechalbari (1937) and Pilikatnik (1959).

Risto Krle (1900, Strumitsa- 1975, Skopje) finished his elementary and secondary education in Strumitsa. He repaired shoes at the beginning of his career. After the liberation he worked at the Ministry of Education and was a member of the Macedonian Association of Writers. He wrote the plays Parite se otepuvachka (1938), Antitsa (1940), Milion machenitsi (1940 (A million Martyrs), Grof Milivoy (1950) (Count Milivoy), Velik den (1950 (A Grand Day), Shekulanti (a radio play) (Surmisers). He also wrote an autobiography.

Kole Chashule (1921,Prilep) finished secondary school in Bitola and Skopje and studied medicine in Belgrade but did not finish because of the war. He was a member of the National Liberation Movement. After the liberation he had a number of political and social functions (executive officer of Radio Skopje, editor of Nov Den and Sovremenost, Razgledi, executive officer of the plays at the National Television of Macedonia, a consul in Canada and an ambassador in Bolivia, Peru and Brasil). He writes plays, prose, publishing materials. He published the following works Prvite Dni (1947) (The First Days), Raskazi (1952) (Short Stories), Zadruga (1951), Veyka na vetrot (Whirlwind), Gradskiot saat (The Town Clock), Tsrnila (Blackness), Vitel (Whirlpool) (plays, books 1967), Partitura na eden Miron (a play, book 1970), Proza (Prose) (short stories, 1968), Prostum (Up On Two Feet) (a novel, 1970), Premrezhye (a novel, 1977), Zhitolyub, Kako sto miluvaet: ostavka na eden karipski minister za vnatreshni raboti ili dostaga na samiot vrv od najvisokata vlast, (The resignation of a Caribbean Minister of Internal Affairs …), Igra ili sotsiyalistichka Eva (A Game or a Socialist Eve), Rodnobokraytsi, Veda (collected works published in 8 boks, 1978), Sud (Judgement) (a play, 1980), Bomyazi (a novel, 1981), Imela (a novel, 1982), Gorchila (Bitterness) (a novel, 1983), Zapisi za natsiyata i literaturata (essays, 1985) (Notes on the nation and literature), Kanadski fragmenti (Canadian fragments) (1985), Konzulski pisma (Letters of Consuls) (1987).

Tome Arsovski (1928, Mitrovitsa) finished secondary education and began to work as the editor of the dramaturgy reduction at Radio Skopje. He is the author of the books Paradoksot na Diogen (Diogen's Paradox), Maturska Vecher (Prom Niight), Obrachi (Manacles) (plays, 1967), Stotiot chekor (The One Hundredth Step) (a play, 1968), Chekor do esenta (A Step to Autumn) (Aplay, 1968), Aleksandra (a play, 1972), Zalez nad ezerskata zemya (Twilight over the Land of Lakes) ( a TV series, 1974), Praznik na ptitsite (Holiday of the Birds) (a play, 1974), Skok preku kozha (A Jump over Skin) (a play, 1980). He also published the poetry books Grst smea (1958) and Neprebol (1961), Paradoksalni raskazi (Paradox Short Stories) (1972) and the novels Patuvanyeto na Tajetkomo (1986) and Kliment Ohridski (Clement of Ohrid) (1988).

B. Painting

The Association of Art Associates Yefimia formed in Skopje in the 30-ties contributed to the development of many artistic fields particularly painting. Every year, exhibitions of the works of eminent academic painters were held in Skopje.

Dimitar Avramovski - Pandilov (1898, the village of Tresonche - 1963, Skopje) is the last of the zograf family Dichovtsi. He completed his higher education at the Academy of Art in Sophia, specializing in Montpelier and Paris. He presented 100 drawings, watercolors and oil at his first exhibition in Skopje in 1927. His work presents tranquil impressionism with a mild form of lyricism imposed by the idealism of the pastoral genre and the Macedonian landscapes.

Lazar Lichenovski (1901, Galichnik -1964, Skopje) also comes from a family of zografs (painters). He completed his higher education in Belgrade specializing in the field of fresco painting (Marcel Lenoar) and mosaic Paul Boduel, in Paris, France. He lived in Belgrade and regularly participated in the exhibitions at the pavilion Tsvieta Zuzorik. His Picasso and Cezanne style works are presented in many cities in Yugoslavia. In 1946 he lived and worked in Skopje. He gradually adapts to the picturesque landscapes of Macedonia and the pastoral characters.

Vangel Kojoman (1904, Struga - 1994, Skopje) completed his elementary and secondary education in Struga and Ohrid and enrolled at the School of Art in Belgrade. While in Italy he became familiar with the Italian Renaissance and then completed a two-year painting course in Belgrade. His mentor was the painter M. Milovanovik. He worked at the Ohrid gymnasium until 1938 and then moved to Belgrade where he lived and worked until 1945. He then returns to Skopje and becomes a teacher at the School of Arts. His first exhibition was in 1929 at the First Spring Exhibition of Yugoslav Artists. His first independent showing was in Skopje in 1938 where he presented 50 of his works with motifs of Ohrid and Struga. His style matured from impressionism to expressionism as well as his unique style using water colors.

Tome Vladimirski (1904, Skopje -1971, Skopje) was a student of Dimitar Andonov - Papradishki and Nikola Martinovski. In the period between 1928 and 1935, he enrolls at the School of Art in Belgrade to complete a two-year academic course. Between 1935 and 1937 he specializes in Prague where he has his first exhibition. In 1937, he has his first independent exhibition in Skopje where he presented his works in landscapes, watercolors, and several portraits. He worked for the National Television of Macedonia (1945 - 1971) as a scenographer.

Vasilie Popovik - Tsitso (1914, Skadar - 1961, Skopje) completed his elementary and secondary education in Skopje. He was a student of Nikola Martinovski. He completed Art School in Belgrade in 1938. In 1939 he begins to work at the theatre in Skopje as a scenographer. He was known for his depiction of landscapes with the application of watercolor and as a caricature artist.

Nikola Martinoski (1903 - 1973, Krushevo) began his elementary education in Krushevo and completed it in Skopje. He was a student of Dimitar Andonov - Papradishki. He enrolled at the Art School of Bucharest and completed it under the mentor Jorga, Shtork and Pakuroa. He was the best in his class and received recognition for his drawing. He specialized at the Academy in Paris. He returned to Skopje in 1929 and worked as a freelance artist. He was also a teacher at the Art School, a director of the Art Gallery and a member of MANU. In 1929 he presented the European painting at his first exhibition in Skopje, but was not very appreciated by the public. Not put down by the negative criticism he received he creates his own style with components of medieval traditional painting (the motif - mother and child), realistic depictions and contemporary expressionism.

C. Theatre

In Bulgaria Vojdan Chernodrinski had performance at his partially professional theatre called Makedonski dramaticheski teatar. The performance of the play Makedonska krvava svadba (A Gory Macedonian Wedding) in Sophia in 1935 is of exceptional importance to the Macedonian language. In 1923

Nikola Kirov Mayski published the pies Ilinden and wrote many other texts which were neither published nor performed.

In 1934 Nikola Drenkov published the play Narod i tsrkva (The People and the Church) opposing the fanaryot clergy in Macedonia. After the First World War, a professional theatre was opened in Skopje with performances in Serbian. In 1928 the play Begalka (Runaway Bride) written by Vasil Ilyoski in Macedonian was on the repertoire. In 1935 Anton Panov's Pechalbari also written in Macedonian was on the repertoire. In 1936/37 the play Begalka (Runaway Bride) was performed again. In 1938 Parite se otepuvachka (Money Can Kill), in 1939 Antitsa and in 1940 Milion machenitsi (A Million Martyrs) - all written by Risto Krle. Between the two World Wars several traveling theatres existed such as Petre Prlichko and Dimche Traykovski. In addition, numerous amateur student associations gave performances in Macedonian.

D. Music

Immediately after the end of the First World War a choir called Vardar was present. In 1922 the choir Mokranyats and Kosta Abrashevik were formed and in 1928 the academic choir Obilik. Towards the end of 1930 tow more choirs were established Evreysko peachko drushtvo (A Jewish Association of Singers) and Gusle. Other choirs were formed in Bitola (K. Abrashevik, Kaymakchalan, S. Mokranyats), Tetovo (Binichki, K. Peychinovik and Bratstvo), Prilep (Gradsko peachko drushtvo, Studentski akademski hor), Veles (Yeka sa Vardara), Odrid (Bilyana), Gostivar (Shiyachki), Kumanovo (Gradski peachki hor). Skopje became a city full of music events. A large number of musicians especially violinists, performed at the Army Residence and the National Theatre and Cinema Balkan. Vasil Jakonovski - Shpato and Vlado Petrov were the virtuoso of their time. Vasil Jakonovski - Shpato is the founder of many orchestras. In 1924 he performed in the orchestra Gorski in Veles. A mandolin orchestra was active for 20 years in Tetovo, as well as in Prilep. The military musicians began performing symphonies under the conductors Leopold Dvorzhak, Vatslav Nedela and Vatslav Mali. Musical pieces were performed in Skopje and Bitola (Koshtana, Dorkyolski raboti, Zona Zamfirova, Lenche Kumanovche, Pechalbari) as well as the operas Ubavata Elena, Mamzel Nitush, Gejsha, Polska krv. In 1937 the operas Kavaleria rustikana by Pjetro Maskanyi and Rigoletto by Gyuzepe Verdi are performed. In 1934 several music establishments are formed: the music school Stevan Mokranyats, the orchestra under the maestro Todor Skalovski (1937 - 1939) and Trayko Prokopiev (1927 - 1939) and the String Quartet of Skopje. In 1922 Sara Arsik opens a private music school. As a result the music school Stevan Mokranyats closes. There was a music school in Bitola within the French consulate. In 1934 Stefan Gajdov publishes his collection of National Songs for a mixed choir, and in 1934 a second collection intended for the string quartet. In 1933 Zhivko Firov publishes his composition Otvori go Kate, penjercheto and Kumanovka. 1. In 1935 Todor Skalovski performs the composition Trieto for flute, violin and piano. In 1936 Petar Bogdanov - Kochko performs the song for a solo voice and piano Kovach. In 1938/39 the compositions Makedonska humoreska and Rapsodia are performed. 1, That same year Trayko Prokopiev also performed the church piece Izhe heruvimi, mixed choir. MNT (Macedonian National Television) 1945 to 1963 A Jewish quarter (maalo) in Skopje , 1932/32 A Prilep Motif, 1956 Female Harvesters, 1926 Tomo Vladimirski Trayko Prokopiev Byzantine Rule in Macedonia The Macedonian territory was divided into several military and administrative regions Skopje, Thessaloniki and Drach. These regions had large armies and were under the leadership of a strategist (ketepan-duks) who had full military, administrative - legislative and financial authority. The free Macedonain population turned into a feudal dependant population. Uprising opposing the Byzantine Rule In 1040 a great uprising began in Macedonia opposing Jovan Orfanotrov ,brother of Micheal IV, because of the changes to the tax system. The leader of the uprising was Peter Delyan, son of Gavril Radomir from his first wife. Micheal IV captured Peter Delyan and cut his nose off and sent it to Thessaloniki. The Byzantine army left Macedonia devastated the turned most of the population into slaves. In 1072 another uprising led by Gyorgyi Voyteh through Skopje. Th Byzantine army encircled Skopje, imprisoned Gyorgy Voyteh and took him to Constantinople.