“THE TRANSFORMATION OF AN UNKNOWN CITY” OR UNRECOGNIZING OF THE TRANSFORMED CITIZENS
ZRENJANIN- imagined like
the visual art action which will present 34 authors, mainly young not established
artists, articulating the urban space of the town through artworks, “the
transformation of an unknown city “ draw attention of the citizens of
Zrenjanin./ even more than that.
A few installations, exhibited as artworks for two weeks, did not draw attention
in the right direction / as a contemporary art practice/, the installations
were totally destroyed.
” We expected this kind of reactions in some way. The installation near
the “dry bridge” was destroyed same night after the project opening.
Day by day, as the action was moving further, a lot of works were robed, ruined
as well as my installation in the main street which was especially interesting
for them. They broke a lot of plunks, slides and at the end they stole even
light sensor - without this part you can not watch the installation…
said Dragan Ignjatow for the press “Glas Javnosti” one of the
organizers of this action, telling that they were beside all expectations
really surprised also with the destroying of the sculpture posted in the flower
pot near the Bank of Vojvodina.
Zorica Jovanovic, author of the installation near “dry bridge”,
said that she is sick of any form of destruction, especially because of all
good reactions of citizens that saw the installation during the preparation
that day, there were a lot of good/ an unexpected reaction before the installation
was finally posted.
”It is shame because many people didn’t have chance to see it,
to see this beautiful part of the city from different point of view. Before
all, people were asking themselves what is this thing doing on this place,
and my opinion is that this part of Zrenjanin can be some new place for gathering
all people, like main city square, even there are many crazy, illogical things
like so called dry bridge. With this installation, as well as with other works,
we wanted to make initiative for new happenings, to give different point of
view... – said Zorica.
This was not the only problems, beside all for other locations they had to
ask for the permission for permanent placing of art works...as well as for
using the stand on the main city square…
”We were asking the permission for using the stand for the artistic
purpose…Beside all, our idea was to articulate the urban space with
artworks. Through their rejection and explanation they gave us, the stand
can not be used in any way, except political. Because of this explanation
we gave up and made new stand for this occasion by ourselves that can be used
just for art practice.
Infect, they missed the whole point of this action, I don’t know if
they even read the concept we gave them. Even that, I have to say that all
contacts we had with others were o.k. and we had no problems with getting
other places for exhibiting.” – said Zorica Jovanovic.
D.Š.
press – Glas Javnosti
Monday, 31.05.2004.
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“The Transformation of an Unknown City”-
installations, performances, lecturing…
PROVOCATION IN THE SERVE
OF TRANSFORMATION
…open approach of artists in new ideas of articulating the city centre
gave the brighter look, one that shows the deepest reality of the city…
Working on the art project,
the group of young artists transformed the city center during the eight days
into exhibiting place. The project was called “The Transformation of
an Unknown City” and the authors and organizer of this event are Zorica
Jovanovic and Dargan Ignjatov, both MA students (multimedia art) from the
Belgrade Art University.
This event gathered 34 authors, mostly students from art Academies (Belgrade
and Novi Sad), established artists, guests from other countries and lecturers.
”Each artist is working on occupation of different space /depends of
his personal interests, idea/ through artworks.” (taken from project
info catalogue)
These young authors done the diversion on traditional ways of art presentation
with there alternative artworks in urban city places, breaking all clichés
of usual city life.
Erotic paintings of Gabriela Parigros in the window shop in main street are
the provocation, shock, as well as the works of Milutin Micic pointed in totally
different esthetic direction placed in the main square. Most of the presented
works are critic of the cultural and social life/ situation. For the example
the action of Rastko Stefanovic “The Pin house” is the reaction
made in ruins of the previous well known place in Zrenjanin, made as a “Museum
of Destruction” showing the behavior of local society.
The ironic point of view show also the installation of Zorica Jovanovic “The
lighthouse”, posted near “dry bridge” pointing out the missing
ships as well as river; meaningless of the place.
During the project, in the theatre club were the presentations of multimedia
art. We mentioned just the part of the program (part realized until Wednesday)
showing various creative artworks (paintings, sculpture, installations, video
art, multimedia projects…) This program is a proof of presenting the
new, contemporary not traditional, ideas in art practice with many possibilities
as well as the new art system that is boundless. Open approach of artists
in new ideas of articulating the city centre gave the brighter look, one that
shows the deepest reality of the city.
Jasmina Tutorov
press / Zrenjanin 21 May 2004.
THE GUARDER OF THE STAND
From all presented artworks for now we can point out the sculpture of painter
and sculpture Milutin Micic, “Beast-Being” or “the sculpture
that citizens do not want” posted first day of this urban spectacle
in front of the King Petar I Karadjordjevic stand on the main city square.
As we further find out from the author, this sculpture supposed to be on the
stand but the permission was not given by local authorities.
Second part of this event was performance recorded as the video work in which
children took part. Thursday, 20 May / 11 AM
In Friday, 21 May at 14PM same author, Milutin Micic, will do the performance
“White flag 2004”. With this performance will be finished his
part/actions in the transformation of Zrenjanin as a call for all citizens
to react on other events in the town.
Zoltan Baba
press / Zrenjanin 21 May 2004.