The Flower Monument (Cvjetni spomenik) designed by Bogdan Bogdanovic, 1966 in Jasenovac, Croatia.
Unlike many other Spomeniks that were subject to vandalism or worn out by time, the Stone Flower is part of a well-maintained memorial complex. Yet, just like with all other Spomeniks, it seems like the story behind it is sometimes forgotten. Many are fascinated by these monuments' futuristic design so much that they forget to ask themselves, what do these amazing structures symbolize? Why are they built the way they are?
The Stone Flower monument has sprouted on the ruins of a concentration camp. Its creator, Bogdan Bogdanović, wanted to inspire peace and reconciliation. I wanted this image to reflect this fading intention and present it again in a peaceful meditative view.
Jasenovac's concentration and death camp was entirely demolished after the war, so when Bogdanović started working on the design, the vast empty area served as a blank canvas for his creation. He refused to design a monument that would echo the horrors that happened here in this past. Saying: "I would neither look for nor find inspiration by bringing the evil back to life." Instead, he designed a 24m flower to raise feelings of reconciliation and a "termination of the inheritance of hatred that passes from generation to generation."
Standing at the bottom of this huge flower, I felt like a concrete blanket was protecting me from the horrors of the past. A peaceful asylum. A shelter of art.
This and more information about the Spomenik can be found here:
https://www.spomenikdatabase.org/jasenovec