ARTICLES – Remembering Moma Markovich by Djuradj “George” Vujcic, Canadian writer and translator.
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Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
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Remembering Moma Markovich
Momcilo “Moma” Markovich was a Serbian comic book author and illustrator. He was born in Belgrade in the Kingdom of Serbia in 1902 although some sources incorrectly say 1901. Markovic studied at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and upon returning to Belgrade he began illustrating, painting and writing comic books.
He was a member of the Golden Age of Serbian Comics as it’s commonly known from 1935 to 1941. His most famous comic books were Rista Sportista and Stojadin.
The scenarios for some of his work were written by Mica Dimitrijevic and the well-known actress Ljubinka Bobic. The comic book Rista Sportista (published by Politikin Zabavnik) even had a theatre adaptation. Stojadin – which was a socio-political satire – was published for years in the magazine Osisani jez. Markovic also designed postal stamps, awards and state diplomas. For his work, he was awarded the prestigious Academy of Seven Arts Award in 1939.
During the Second World War, the Nazis interned him in a labour camp in Austria as they deemed him a potentially dangerous element. After numerous escape attempts, he finally managed to cross the border into Italy onto Allied-held territory. After the war, he didn’t return to the newly Communist Yugoslavia as he chose to stay in Italy. He moved to Canada in 1951 but without his family as his son was previously killed by Yugoslav border guards while attempting to cross the border into Italy causing Moma Markovich’s wife to end up in a hospital after a nervous breakdown.
In Canada, Markovich first worked as a freelance artist but in 1955, he found work with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and after that the Department of Highways as a junior draftsman. He eventually moved to the Art Section where he painted artistic renderings of transportation infrastructure across Ontario.
Markovich spent hours researching his works, ensuring accurate historical detail. He created almost 200 artworks while working at the Ministry of Transportation, and after retiring from the ministry in 1970, he created a series of 55 artworks for the Ministry of Natural Resources.
As with other graphic designers who emigrated to the West out of political reasons (designers such as Djuka Jankovic and Radomir Perica), the Serbian public seemingly forgot about Moma Markovich until the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. After that, his and other designers’ work was finally valued and available to readers.
Moma Markovich passed away in Toronto in 1977 at the age of 75. He is interred at York Cemetery in Toronto (Section 16, Lot 1271). May God rest his soul.
He was a member of the Golden Age of Serbian Comics as it’s commonly known from 1935 to 1941. His most famous comic books were Rista Sportista and Stojadin.
The scenarios for some of his work were written by Mica Dimitrijevic and the well-known actress Ljubinka Bobic. The comic book Rista Sportista (published by Politikin Zabavnik) even had a theatre adaptation. Stojadin – which was a socio-political satire – was published for years in the magazine Osisani jez. Markovic also designed postal stamps, awards and state diplomas. For his work, he was awarded the prestigious Academy of Seven Arts Award in 1939.
During the Second World War, the Nazis interned him in a labour camp in Austria as they deemed him a potentially dangerous element. After numerous escape attempts, he finally managed to cross the border into Italy onto Allied-held territory. After the war, he didn’t return to the newly Communist Yugoslavia as he chose to stay in Italy. He moved to Canada in 1951 but without his family as his son was previously killed by Yugoslav border guards while attempting to cross the border into Italy causing Moma Markovich’s wife to end up in a hospital after a nervous breakdown.
In Canada, Markovich first worked as a freelance artist but in 1955, he found work with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and after that the Department of Highways as a junior draftsman. He eventually moved to the Art Section where he painted artistic renderings of transportation infrastructure across Ontario.
Markovich spent hours researching his works, ensuring accurate historical detail. He created almost 200 artworks while working at the Ministry of Transportation, and after retiring from the ministry in 1970, he created a series of 55 artworks for the Ministry of Natural Resources.
As with other graphic designers who emigrated to the West out of political reasons (designers such as Djuka Jankovic and Radomir Perica), the Serbian public seemingly forgot about Moma Markovich until the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. After that, his and other designers’ work was finally valued and available to readers.
Moma Markovich passed away in Toronto in 1977 at the age of 75. He is interred at York Cemetery in Toronto (Section 16, Lot 1271). May God rest his soul.
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Remembering Moma Markovich
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Last updated on July 13, 2021.
Published by Urban Book Circle on September 7, 2020 Urban Book Circle® (UBC) |
· Photos of Moma Markovich courtesy of Government of Ontario Art Collection, Archives of Ontario: 101203 ·
· Edited by Djuradj “George” Vujcic, Danijela Kovacevic Mikic and Prvoslav “Pearse” Vujcic ·
· Design & Artwork by Prvoslav “Pearse” Vujcic and Djuradj “George” Vujcic ·
· Illustrated by Jefimija “Mia” Vujcic ·
All rights reserved. Copyright © Urban Book Circle®
· Design & Artwork by Prvoslav “Pearse” Vujcic and Djuradj “George” Vujcic ·
· Illustrated by Jefimija “Mia” Vujcic ·
All rights reserved. Copyright © Urban Book Circle®
