Mar 21 • 19:00 UTC 🇭🇷 Croatia Narod.hr

A Chetnik's Kiss in Vukovar from 1991 Received a Photo Award: Not Everything Went Smoothly

A controversial photograph depicting a kiss between Serbian soldiers in Vukovar during the 1991 conflict won an international photography award but was subsequently withdrawn from public display due to public backlash.

The photograph titled "Kiss in the Ruins," taken by Serbian photographer Dragoljub Zamurović on November 18, 1991, depicts a moment during the fall of Vukovar, where Serbian soldiers can be seen sharing a kiss in the devastated city. This image has stirred significant controversy given its context surrounding the Serbian aggression against Croatia and the crimes committed during the occupation of Vukovar. Although it won first prize at the Life Framer competition in the "Relationships" category, the image soon faced strong criticism from the public and was removed from the official presentation of the winners.

Zamurović expressed that the photograph was not pulled due to technical issues or violations of the competition rules, but rather due to the public's reaction to the historical and emotional weight of the image. The backlash included mentions of threats and potential media and legal pressures aimed at the photograph and its significance. Many viewers found the image problematic, highlighting the sensitive nature of the events that transpired in Vukovar and the ongoing tensions between Serbian and Croatian communities related to the war.

The photographer's involvement with the Serbian military during the conflict adds another layer of complexity to this story. The act of capturing this moment of tenderness amidst destruction has left many questioning the appropriateness of the image as a representation of a traumatic period in Croatian history, revealing the profound divisions and unresolved feelings that still linger in the region. This case underscores the challenges faced by artists and historians in presenting narratives from conflicted pasts in a respectful and meaningful way, not just in Croatia, but in any post-conflict society.

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