North Mitrovica has been hosting artists from different countries since March, gathered at the Third Mitrovica Art Residency, organized by the Private Cultural Center "Aquarius". They come from various backgrounds - from the region to Europe. They are in our city for the first time and see it in a way contrary to the perception of its inhabitants - as a space of freedom, openness and creative potential. Through different artistic disciplines, guests explore specific corners and energy of the city, get to know the local community and prepare for the end of the program, when they will present the results of their work to the audience.
Upon arrival, some participants shared their expectations and first impressions of North Mitrovica at the press conference.
Branislav Sarić, a multimedia artist from Belgrade, could not hide his surprise when it comes to the difference between what is shown in the media and the reality he experienced in Mitrovica.
"I'll just tell my experience from breakfast in the hotel where I'm staying. Pink was on, and many guests next to me were watching that screen, where the establishment was talking about the protests and the terrible tension in Kosovo... And I'm sitting, eating breakfast in Mitrovica, watching people - nothing happens. I go out into the street, nothing happens," said Branislav.
He applied precisely because the residency is held in Kosovo.
"It is very important that we came here. The associations with Mitrovica are different, and I have several people in the neighborhood, among them the brother of the late Oliver Ivanovic. I grew up with his nephew, we are the same generation. So, I know a lot about Mitrovica, if nothing else, through that prism," says Branislav.
Berina Šuvalija, a painting student from Sarajevo, points out that she came to this city without preconceived expectations.
"It's a wonderful city. I feel at home. We've been to Peja, Dečani and Prizren, the experiences are incredible. Day by day I have deeper interpretations of the city itself and the people. You shouldn't be closed-minded, you should visit new cities. There are wonderful people everywhere, and you should focus more on the positive than on the negative," says Berina.
Her colleague Aiša Kečo, a sculpture student, sees Mitrovica as a young and dynamic city.
"Mitrovica is a very young city, and I had no idea about it. There are many young people, students, pupils. My first impression was actually cheerfulness. If I had to use one word to describe the city, it would be will. You can feel a strong will for progress, if you can say that," says Aisha.
Luna Bognar, a fashion designer from Belgrade, admits that she came with a certain amount of fear, which soon disappeared.
"The city is meaningful, the people are wonderful, and I feel like I'm at home. I believe that by spreading my impressions in Belgrade, I will help overcome fears and insecurities about Kosovo," says Luna.
Alexey Lapin, a director of Russian origin who lives in Vienna, says that Mitrovica is inspiring for artists.
"I feel a kind of magical freedom, which is very nice to have if you want to create art. I think this is a city where I feel a responsibility to everything, but also to express myself, so I'm very excited to be here," Alexey points out.
He sees Mitrovica as a unique place in Europe.
"Of course I read about Mitrovica and its history, but I wanted to be surprised. And I was surprised. I see it as a unique place in Europe, for sure. What actually surprised me the most was how people really live in freedom and enjoy life. I didn't see that in my city. Here people really enjoy coffee, cigarettes..."
However, he notes that there is a certain tension in the city.
"There's a lot of police, and I might say resentment. You can feel the tension in the air."
However, what particularly impressed him was the way the community functioned despite the challenges.
"On the other hand, there are people who use those challenges to improvise and move on. What they actually want is peace, everyday life, silence - which is very nice," he emphasized.
Our city, he adds, reminded him of one in Russia.
"I saw something similar in a small town in Russia, where I was shooting a movie, but it's a really small town. Here you have a pretty big community that sticks together. That's my impression, at least from what I saw," says Alexey.
The role of the artist: Elite or part of the community?
The participants of the Mitrovica residency were also asked whether artists should be considered elite.
Branislav Sarić is of the opinion that artists should not belong to the elite, but should be connected to the wider society.
"I think that an artist, if he does not belong to the masses, is not an artist. The elite is something else. We live in a severe economic crisis, in a difficult economic age. The elite can be economic, at the moment. Artists, in our country, are hardly elite and hardly will be. In an ideological sense, I think they should not be considered elite," said Branislav.
Luna Bognar adds that artists should be in contact with people, not distance themselves.
"I come from a world that is generally considered elite. Fashion has always had that status. But I would first of all like to draw attention to knowledge. I deeply believe that every educated fashion designer would confirm that fashion is not an elite. That context of elitism is only good if it provides the conditions for creation. If elitism is needed by society now for artists to actively engage in their work, then that's fine. But what does elite mean anyway? It's a kind of separation again," Luna believes.
In her opinion, art should not be separated from the society to which it belongs.
"All art is a reflection of the society and times we live in. If we don't live in an elite society, what's the point of artists being elite? It's just a self-proclaimed status, and we're entering a perception of reality that looks more like reality than real life."
He points out that honest communication with people is the key to real art.
"I think the idea is to communicate with people honestly. I deeply believe that art is only real if it's honest. If the focus is on the elite, that's another topic."
Speaking about the importance of artistic residencies, Luna Bognar says that their role is to preserve artistic integrity.
"It's no coincidence that artists are associated with the elite, because art is a special stream of existence. That's why art residencies are extremely important - they are in line with our nature. In these areas, artists can hardly realize their full potential by fighting daily for existence. Art residencies are a deep nourishment of the soul and fuel for future creation."
On the other hand, Aisha Kecho believes that artists in the region, but also beyond, are often not respected as they deserve.
"It's not that artists should be the elite now, but we have come to the point that the underestimation of artists should stop. Art is perceived as a hobby in the Balkans. People look at artists as those who do something at home, as if it were a place to rest. They don't understand that it's a job that lasts all day, sometimes even night," points out Aisha.
Constraints and frustrations: Encouragement or hindrance?
Art often springs up where conditions are limited, resources are modest, and everyday life is uncertain. That is why the question arose about the challenges the participants encountered during their stay and creation in North Mitrovica. Speaking of the frustrations that can arise from limited working conditions, they agree that cooperation and adaptation are crucial to success.
"Of course there are limitations, but they can be useful in the creative process. In my approach, it's important to adapt to the situation and not force things. Sometimes, honestly, I feel like I spy. people, because I am a stranger in this environment. I try to respect the boundaries that people set, including safety aspects. I usually ask people if they want to participate. For me, cooperation is key. That's the reality. There are no limits that cannot be accepted, because they are part of the rules of the game. Of course, there is always the possibility that these rules will be broken, but I am aware of those limits, so everything is fine," says Aleksey.
On the other hand, Luna Bognar points out that although limitations can encourage creativity, they sometimes also cause a feeling of frustration.
"I'm no longer sure how I would create under ideal conditions, without the need to navigate. What would it look like if we had all the resources that, by definition, should exist? Although we have a lot of creativity, reality often forces us to adapt to circumstances," Luna underlines.
Dunjerin: More than 50 entries, a selection of the best artists with a contemporary approach
Director of PKC "Aquarius", Miljana Dunđerin, says that the aim of the art residency is to enable artists, especially those with a contemporary approach to art, to visit North Mitrovica, get to know the city and draw unique inspiration from it that may not be seen by everyday visitors.
"Our goal is to create a platform where different artistic disciplines can connect, creating a collective consciousness through art," adds Dunjerin.
The Mitrovica art residency is part of the "Art therapy for everyone" program, which, according to Miljana, has proven to be a powerful tool for connecting people through art. Within it, 70 artists from 11 countries of the world are participating this year, while this year's Residency includes eight authors and two guest writers.
"This year there were over 58 applications for the artist residency, which was not an easy task to decide which artists to receive. Each of them was chosen for a reason," concludes Dunđerin.
The participants of the residency, which continues for a few more days, agree on one thing - North Mitrovica inspired them, initiated and opened new questions about the role of artists, community and freedom of creation. How much this city inspired them, will be clear at the exhibition of their works.
End of residency: Concert, printing and exhibition
The third Mitrovica artist residency will be rounded off with a rich program at the Private Cultural Center "Aquarius", which will gather 20 artists from eight countries over the next three days.
Tonight at 21.00:XNUMX in Aquarius, the band from North Macedonia "Funk Shui" will perform.
A day later, from 19.00:23.00 p.m., in "Aquarius" the artefacts created at the "City Stories" art workshops under the mentorship of Nikos Arvanitidis will be printed. Citizens will be able to bring their t-shirt, t-shirt or other item to "Aquarius" until XNUMX:XNUMX p.m., and some of the symbols representing Mitrovica will be printed for them free of charge.
On Tuesday, April 29, in "Aquarius" at 20.00:XNUMX p.m., a multimedia exhibition of works created during this year's third consecutive Mitrovica art residency will be opened.
The artworks of Petra Jovanovska, Berina Šuvalija, Aisha Kečo, Luna Bognar, Mirsad Đurđević will be exhibited, and the literary works of Amar Ličina, Marija Petranović Šerifović and Branislav Sarić will be presented.
Screenings of films by Aleksej Lapin, Dzhela Gottlieb and Nikola Polić are also planned.
Entry to all programs is free.
So far, the Mitrovica art residence has hosted artists from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Peru, Iraq, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Croatia and Serbia.
