PICTURE BOOK THE HEAVENLY BOY AND HIS DOG TO BE PRESENTED IN RUSSIA

The wordless picture book, in which the story is told entirely through illustrations, will present the wartime suffering of Serb children to Russian audiences later this month. "The Serb people have a duty to tell the truth about their suffering," the author said, adding that the subject is also important to Russians because nobody cares about their victims either.

By LJERKA BJELICA

BIJELJINA, 14. NOVEMBRA /SRNA/ - The wordless picture book, or silent book, about the wartime suffering of Serb children, The Heavenly Boy and His Dog, by young Bijeljina-based artist Mirna Jovanović, will be presented to audiences in Russia.

Jovanović told SRNA that The Heavenly Boy and His Dog is her first original project and the first wordless picture book in Republika Srpska.

"The idea grew out of another book I illustrated about Christian children who suffered throughout the centuries. The beautiful, angelic figure of a boy named Slobodan simply appeared to me, along with his courage and nobility in refusing to abandon his canine friend amid the hellish circumstances of war, choosing instead to go and save him, even at the cost of his own life," Jovanović said.

She conceived and illustrated the picture book in 2023, telling, entirely through images and without words, the story of the life and suffering of Holy New Martyr Slobodan Stojanović, who was brutally killed in the vicinity of Zvornik in 1992.

She said that the Representative Office of Republika Srpska in the Russian Federation, in cooperation with the M. I. Rudomino All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature in Moscow, is organizing an exhibition of illustrations and a presentation of the picture book from November 16 to 30.

According to her, Russians are now going through everything that the Serb people experienced during the last war.

"Nobody cares about their victims either, and a media war has been waged against them for decades. This subject is close to their hearts and important to them," said Jovanović, who will attend the book presentation at the Centre of Slavic Cultures on November 27.

WE SURVIVED AND HAVE A DUTY TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR SUFFERING

She believes it is very important to address these subjects through art in all its forms, as the Serb people have a duty to tell the truth about their suffering and hardships.

Following her first picture book, she produced another one dealing with the wartime Operation Storm – Dena: A Convoy of Sorrow, a Journey of Love.

Jovanović said that the Serb people are awakening and that institutions such as the Representative Offices of Republika Srpska abroad, and particularly the Republika Srpska Memorial Centre, are doing an excellent job.

"My trip to Moscow was supported by Bojan Savić /President of the SNSD Bijeljina City Board/, whom I cannot thank enough for recognizing the importance of artistic representation of our homeland, both at home and abroad, especially when it comes to subjects such as these," the author said.

She added that her need to bear witness to the truth about the suffering of the Serb people had prompted her to contact the Representative Office of Republika Srpska in Russia and offer to cooperate.

"I am grateful to the wonderful people, especially Ms. Elena Kurenkova, who worked on this idea with such affection," Jovanović said.

She added that she had also established cooperation with the Representative Office of Republika Srpska in Greece, which will publish the picture book in Greek next year and distribute it to key institutions and contacts across Greece.

"Step by step, the truth will spread," Jovanović said.


SRPSKA IS A HOMELAND WORTH CREATING IN

The young author, who is an actress, icon painter and illustrator, stressed that Republika Srpska is indeed a homeland worth creating in and leaving a lasting artistic contribution to.

She also recalled an interesting exchange with a woman from the Netherlands who mentors illustrators and reviews and provides feedback on their portfolios, and who found her artistic style particularly interesting.

"What I found particularly interesting was her shock that a wordless picture book had been published in Republika Srpska without any problems or complications and had been very well received – and not just one book, but the first in a series. In the Netherlands, such projects are not considered commercial enough," the author said.

Among her extensive body of work, she singled out her illustrations for the children's book The Aviator Hen, written by her sister Marina Jovanović, which won the prestigious Sovica award for the best unpublished children's book in 2025.

"I am also very proud of my first wordless picture book for adults, Luna and Sol, which is awaiting publication. I am really looking forward to it, as it is another original project of mine," Jovanović said.

She believes she has not yet reached the level she aspires to as an icon painter, but is working towards it. She graduated from the "Odigitria" School of Icon Painting and paints in the Byzantine iconographic style, but with secular motifs.

"I love creating authentic icons. Of course, I still lack spiritual maturity, which comes with age and humility – something I have yet to achieve – as well as a very active spiritual life. I do my best within the limits of my frail human strength, but I believe God will help me," the artist said.

Jovanović graduated from the Academy of Arts in Bijeljina in 2013, majoring in acting, in the class of Professor Jug Radivojević.

"As for theatre, unfortunately, I have not performed my favourite role, and the one I am proudest of, for several years, as the production has been discontinued. It was the role of Zinaida Savishna in Anton Pavlovich Chekhov's play Ivan's Suicide, adapted and directed with great skill by the wonderful director David Alić," Jovanović said.


NEXT PROJECT TO EXPLORE THE LIFE OF KING TVRTKO I KOTROMANIĆ

She is currently immersed in developing the subject for her next picture book, which will explore the life of King Tvrtko I Kotromanić.

"I believe it is time to restore the king to the place he deserves and to ensure that our children know who the most important king of Serbian Bosnia was," Jovanović said.

She also believes that artists from the region tend to be somewhat passive, noting that their art is appreciated wherever people from these parts have gone. She said they should not be shy, but should knock on every door, put their work forward and fight for opportunities.

"This is my first experience abroad, and I have been met with approval," Jovanović said.

She is currently involved in numerous projects, particularly through the KPK – House of True Culture Association, which she founded together with her friends and colleagues Nenad Blagojević and Dragan Arsenić.

"Since we share the same views on the world and our country, Bijeljina can expect many more firsts in both theatre and literature," Jovanović said.