Milomir Kovačević Strašni

Milomir Kovačević was born in 1961 in Sarajevo. He started to engage in photography at the age of 17 in the University Photo Club CEDUS. In 1989, he became a member of the Association of Applied Artists and Designers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ULUPUBIH). From the very beginning, his work was dedicated to the life on the streets, as well as to cultural events in Sarajevo. His engagement with photojournalism did not make his work sensationalist in tone. A series of photographs of Medjugorje, prisons, flea markets, rock concerts, the" Hordes of Evil" (supporters of the "Sarajevo" Football Club), graffiti, pioneers, Tito's portraits in shop windows, the last celebration of Yugoslavia's Republic Day... are only some of the works for which he is best known. At the beginning of 1992, he closely followed everything that would make the tragedy of Sarajevo famous in the world. He moved to Paris in 1995. In his new environment, he continued his engagement in photography and exhibitions. He was awarded the CCF Foundation's (now HSBC) annual photography award in 1998. He also received numerous other important awards, among which are the French Knight's Order of Merit and The Sixth of April Sarajevo Award (2016).