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Early Life edit
Born in 1956 and raised in central Sarajevo. His parents Borislav and Andjelka Ćorović, moved to an apartment in a different part of town in 1967, which later became his studio, at 10 years old, Željko enrolled himself into 'Brotherhood Unity', one of the best primary schools in former Yugoslavia. Aged 12, Ćorović's father, a Second World War Partizan hero (despite being personally treated by Marshal Tito's own doctor Papo|Isidor Papo) was killed by a blood clot. At a similar time Ćorović's own battle with childhood polio came to pass, and resulted in a lifelong post-polio effect leaving one of his legs shorter than the other and the permanent disfiguration of his spine.
At 21 years old he finished electro-technical school in Sarajevo and then Ćorović immersed himself in the vibrant atmosphere of Sarajevo's prestigious Academy of Fine Art. Here he studied sketch under his cousin Milorad Ćorović, a famed artist in his own right, who eventually became the dean of the University, before the civil war forced Milorad to abandon his academic post and undertake a new life as a refugee.
Željko’s exploration as an academician reached its culmination with a final thesis that showcased his creative ingenuity—an expansive series of paintings designed to translate the auditory realm of music into the visual language of art.
After graduating he suffered an unjust imprisonment in Zenica (a prison featured in its own episode of Netflix documentary series ‘Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons’) stemming from false drug charges. However, the prison commissioner granted him an art studio in the prison, wherein he could continue to work but this privileged imprisonment came with a catch, all of the work he produced there would remain the property of Zenica prison.
Serendipitously, his cousin, seminal Serbian historian Vladimir Ćorović, also served an unjust prison sentence in the same facility. After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian authorities arrested Vladimir Ćorović and indicted him in the ‘Banja Luka process’ for his work with ‘Prosvjeta’, he was accused of high treason. This shared familial history adds a profound dimension to Ćorović's personal and artistic journey, emphasising resilience in the face of injustice and a commitment to upholding Yugoslavian civilisation despite colonialist and nationalist challenges.
Post Graduation edit
Ćorović later became a sketch artist in the archive of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also worked as a sound and lighting technician for Chamber Theatre 55 in Sarajevo. Then his career pivoted to the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), helming the sound and lighting of their coverage throughout the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics, where he intertwined his artistic prowess with technical finesse. He also won an interior design award alongside Slobodan Perisic for a nightclub called Bumbus. Ćorović travelled across Europe and North Africa in the 1980's, wherein he showcased his artistic versatility with exhibitions in Germany and The Netherlands.
London edit
Exhibitions across Great Britain and Ireland not only demonstrated his creations but also garnered international acclaim and press coverage, particularly for his poignant and satirical depictions of the civil war that ravaged former Yugoslavia.
Finally accepting that London was where he would call home forever, Ćorović's Portobello Road studio became an epicentre of creativity. It was here that he crafted several series of painting inspired by his extensive explorations of the theoretical physics, namely, string theory and his exchange-genes concept.
[1] "Željko Ćorović's Poignant Exhibition at Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford, Ireland, January 1994
During Garter Lane Arts Centre's Bosnian Arts Week, Željko Ćorović’s, installation delivered a poignant dimension to the cultural exposition. Amidst the diverse events, including fine art by Sonja Radan, Tamara Jovandić, a piano recital by Zoran Jančić and a ballet performance by Lejla Nezirović, Ćorović's installation piece left an indelible mark.
The visual arts exhibition, housed in Garter Lane's main gallery, featured Ćorović's installation piece titled 'How the Media Killed My Friends.' This powerful work was a rectangular space reminiscent of a grave filled with unspooled video tape. Marked only by a cross formed from newspaper banners, the installation made a compelling statement about Western media representation of the Bosnian conflict.
Throughout the week, various artists, including Emina Kurtagić, a Croatian-born filmmaker, and Sarajevan director Dubravko Bibanović, provided insights into the culture and everyday life of the former Yugoslavia. Kurtagić's unique stories and Ćorović's installation added depth to the understanding of the Bosnian experience. It became a focal point for reflection on how information can be twisted, echoing its intent through to the present day, a stark reminder that art, in the face of media distortions, stands resilient, telling stories that refuse to be buried in the graves of indifference."
In the early 90s Ćorović began working as an interior designer. His projects stretching from high-profile collaborations in central London to international ventures in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Croatia, and Germany. In collaboration with esteemed figures like hotelier Risto Gojković and restaurateur Peter Ilić, Ćorović broke the boundaries of conventional interior design. His spaces were a harmonious blend of artistic vision and functionality, where each creation goes beyond mere decoration to metamorphose into a living artwork.
Ćorović was married three times, the culmination of these unions was his third wife, Nina Peles, with whom he shared a chapter of his life until the turn of the century. Their shared journey included the upbringing of their two children, Boris and Masha, in the vibrant surroundings of West London’s Trellick Tower. As an artist herself, Nina added a unique layer to the artistic ambiance that permeated the Ćorović household.
Following a legal dispute with Gojković, Ćorović found himself undertaking a modest occupational role to fulfil his financial obligations, he assumed the position of a chauffeur for the BBC. This phase took an unexpected turn in the wake of the widely reported murder of BBC Crimewatch Presenter, Jill Dando. In the aftermath of this shocking event, Ćorović found himself abruptly fired from his chauffeur position without prior notice.
[2] “ POST-DANDO purging at the BBC A Serb driver has been sacked by the corporation who claims he is the victim of its "paranoia". Zeliko Ćorović, whose clients included Michael Buerk, says he was summarily dumped after Jill Dando's murder. "I arrived at work to be told that the BBC security people did not want me driving their staff around any more," says Mr Ćorović. "It is totally unfair. I am a good driver and I am being persecuted because of my nationality. I understand that after what happened to Jill Dando they might not want me to work for a while but this is unjustified.” The BBC insists it ditched Mr Ćorović for berating staff about their "anti-Serbian coverage". "The issue for us was not his nationality but his conduct," it says. "He has very strong opinions.” ”
Countless departed friends and family members in the wake of the civil war-induced strife inflicted overwhelming anguish upon Ćorović's soul, a turmoil that coloured the timbre in the emotional depths of his artworks. His canvases pulsate with palpable sentiments of loss, anger and an infinite quest for his own identity as a Yugoslav, demanding his audience to confront their own sense of self and belonging.
Presently Ćorović continues to channel his artistic fervour into the creation of evocative oil paintings. His later works include meticulously reclaimed walnut decorative furniture and sculpture.
In April 2024 a book was released covering his life and career entitled 'Željko Ćorović - Retrospective', available in the UK, Bosnia and Serbia in all 3 respective languages. The book was launched with an accompanying Retrospective exhibition at Kensington Town Hall in London.