Arts & Culture

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Interview originally published in SAN Magazine Issue 1, July 2015

I Brought the Soul of Serbia to Toronto

“I didn’t want to emigrate to Europe because I had the feeling that we were seen as second-class citizens. I didn’t choose America either because there you would have to abandon your cultural heritage. Canada seemed to be a fortunate compromise, because it presents everyone the opportunity to nurture their own culture and language.”

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Serbian cultural organization Oplenac was founded in Canada, far away from its homeland, exactly 30 years ago. And so, somewhere at the edge of the earth, out of a primordial need to preserve its own identity, the strong love towards Serbian traditions and centuries-old heritage found its shelter. As soon as you walk through the doors of Oplenac, it looks as if you magically stepped into a Serbian home.

The powerful compositions of the most significant Canadian painters of the first half of the twentieth century—whose paintings have become part of Canada’s national heritage—can be seen in some of the most visited art galleries in Canada. Among them are the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario.

Serbian cultural organization Oplenac was founded in Canada, far away from its homeland, exactly 30 years ago. And so, somewhere at the edge of the earth, out of a primordial need to preserve its own identity, the strong love towards Serbian traditions and centuries-old heritage found its shelter. As soon as you walk through the doors of Oplenac, it looks as if you magically stepped into a Serbian home.

Have you ever attended a performance put on by the Academy of Serbian Folk Dancing? If not, I heartily recommend it and guarantee that it will captivate you. And if you have, you know exactly what I am talking about.

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Kristina Bijelic, 25-year-old musicologist and singer, possesses one more unexpected quality: she speaks fluent, grammatically correct Serbian, and uses the occasional English expression with the obligatory explanation that she does not know the word in Serbian. She was born in Toronto. She has never lived in Serbia.

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This book, whether a novel or collection of stories, is experienced as a touching ode to a deceased partner, an ode to love. It is read in a single breath, and often the reader finds themselves gripped by strong emotions.