Opening of the exhibition of the art colony "Kolut Mandić" and marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag

15. Sep 2025.
Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Tunisia H.E. Mrs. Dijana Ivancic opened the exhibition of paintings from the "Kolut Mandic" art colony in the conference hall of the El Mouradi Palace Hotel in Sousse on September 15, 2025. The event was attended by the Secretary General of the City of Sousse, hotel officials, Tunisian painters, members of the media, representatives of travel agencies, and Serbian tourists. The ceremony began with the national anthems of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Tunisia.

The "Kolut Mandic" Colony has existed for 25 years. Besides exhibitions in Serbia, it has also organized exhibitions abroad. This year, the Colony held its 42nd gathering, named "Mediterraneo," in Sousse, Tunisia. It comprised 11 prominent academic artists from Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia who presented a great diversity and richness of motifs and techniques.

Ambassador Ivančić expressed her particular satisfaction that the exhibition opened on September 15, when the Republic of Serbia celebrates the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag. She emphasized that this date is symbolic and very significant for the history of the Serbian people, when it marks the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki Front during the First World War. She pointed out that on this day the Serbian people renew their unbreakable connection with their history and territory, reminding them of the importance of preserving and transmitting the values ​​of harmony, freedom and unity. She emphasized that she is proud that the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, with all the guests present, is celebrating this day in Tunisia, which provided assistance to the Serbian Army during World War I by receiving 62,000 soldiers and civilians who had medical treatment in Bizerte, before heading to the Thessaloniki Front.

She expressed her great gratitude to the organizers, especially the founder of the colony, Miloš Mandić, and all the painters present, for the initiative, which illustrates the mutual desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of culture and art, in the spirit of traditional friendship between our countries. She emphasized that art is a universal language that transcends all borders and contributes to closer ties and better understanding between people, regardless of their culture, language or religion, and expressed hope that we will continue to organize a significant number of cultural events in the future that will highlight the shared history and cooperation in numerous domains between Serbia and Tunisia.