Svemirac 81/22/, installation and documentary
The exhibition Novi Sad – Modern City featured a documentary film showcasing the reconstruction of one of the largest chandeliers in the former Yugoslavia, originally installed in the North Hall of SPENS in Novi Sad.
As part of the original interior design of the SPENS building, a massive chandelier was installed in 1981—one of the largest in Europe at the time. Measuring 80 meters in length and featuring 2,500 light bulbs, it was produced by the lighting factory Dekor in Zabok under the name Svemir-Alfa. Employees unofficially referred to it as Svemirac, inspired by its floating light structure and contemporary design. Located in the North Hall, the chandelier was used only on special occasions due to its high electricity consumption. Whenever Svemirac was illuminated, the people of Novi Sad knew that something significant was happening in the city.
Over time, the North Hall underwent numerous transformations, and the chandelier gradually lost its prominence before eventually ceasing to function. In 2022, as part of the Novi Sad – Modern City project, the chandelier was restored. Its preserved segments—kept for over 40 years—were transferred to Hall 8. Svemirac 81/22 was officially lit at the opening of the exhibition on February 12, 2022, as a tribute to the architectural heritage of Yugoslav modernism and a testament to the processes that shaped the modernity of the City of Novi Sad.
In its new configuration, adapted to the new location, the original logic of connecting the chandelier’s modular elements has been retained. Today, it features 750 LED bulbs and remains in this space with the aim of re-illuminating SPENS and enhancing cultural events in the city.
