In conversation with: Branislav Dimitrijević and Branko Milisković
Monday, December 23 / 7 p.m
Balkan cinema
Braće Jugovića 16
At the initiative of media and performance artist Branko Milisković, in cooperation with the Saša Marchet Foundation, we are continuing the series of talks that will be held in the historical building of the Balkan Cinema. The second conversation will be between art historian and professor of art history and theory at the College of Fine and Applied Arts in Belgrade, Branislav Dimitrijević, and artist Branko Milisković. In his preparatory notes, Branislav Dimitrijević states, among other things: “For me, art is a form of thought. A special form of thinking that is in direct connection with action. But it is primarily a form of transgression, overstepping. The promise of transcendence is the main promise of art. This is, for example, the view in one of Branko Milisković’s works where he looks at us from the bathtub. It’s that transgressive cut. That is what is important in art. Because I reluctantly accepted to participate in the conversation because it was initiated by an artist whose work has that capacity. I didn’t respond because of the topic. I responded because of artists and art.”
The conversation will begin with the reading of selected parts from the first collection of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia, entitled “Work in Art”. The topics of the conversation will include questions about the political, educational and institutional attitude towards independent artists and culture in general, as well as the lack of art criticism, especially in the field of visual arts. The discussion will cover the geopolitics of contemporary art, problems and challenges faced by artists from Serbia on the European and international scene. Also, the importance of the consistency of the competition policy of the Ministry of Culture and the Secretariat for Culture of the City of Belgrade, as well as the support of private foundations, will be discussed again.
The interlocutors will refer to the concept of “contemporary art” from the 1990s until today, as well as its socio-politically engaged character. In particular, we will talk about the “continuous discontinuity” of the development of contemporary art in the areas of the former Yugoslavia, as well as the antagonism between contemporary art and national culture; between neoliberal market-valued “decorative” art and ideologically engaged.
This initiative aims to establish a public conversation as a platform for understanding the position of both independent artists and actors in culture and art education; through the use of dialogue in the research and recording of problems that arise from administrative, professional to the regulation of competition policy and equal rights. The foundation strives to empower artists to share their observations and challenges, especially those related to the existential consequences and possibilities of creative work in an environment that is not always directed towards understanding. This conversation is based on creating a context that will contribute to building respect for individuals who create and take responsibility for their independence in the name of the common good, as precious and exceptional witnesses of the times in which we live. Bioskop Balkan – a space for contemporary art, also has an obligation to take responsibility and put the current narrative in the center of attention, offering solutions instead of further deepening the misunderstanding of different actors in culture.
Photo: Bojana Janjić
