The Montenegrin Pavilion officially opened today at the 61st Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art, one of the most significant international events in the field of contemporary art.

This year, Montenegro is represented by the project “Out of the Blue, I’m Swept Away” by artist Siniša Radulović, curated by Dr. Svetlana Racanović. The Commissioner of the Pavilion is Dr. Vladislav Šćepanović, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro, while the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro serves as the organizer and executive producer of the national presentation, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro.

Commissioner of the Montenegrin Pavilion, Dr. Vladislav Šćepanović, emphasized that Montenegro’s participation this year carries particular significance, both because of the project itself and the standards according to which it was realized.

“This year, Montenegro is presenting itself in the most representative exhibition space it has had so far, which marks an important step toward greater visibility and a more equal position for Montenegrin contemporary art on the international stage,” said Šćepanović.

He also highlighted the importance of a professional and transparent project selection process.

“It is important for us to emphasize that the selection was carried out without political pressure or compromise, based exclusively on artistic criteria and professional trust in the expert commission. Such an approach not only results in a high-quality project, but also strengthens trust in institutions and confirms that art can and should operate independently,” Šćepanović stated.

The pavilion was officially opened by the Minister of Culture and Media, Dr. Tamara Vujović, who pointed out that this year’s presentation of Montenegro at the Biennale holds special importance as it takes place during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro’s independence.

“That anniversary testifies to the continuity of the development of our institutions, the strengthening of cultural policy, and our ability to develop and affirm our identity through contemporary expression and new cultural practices,” said Vujović, adding that the connection between the anniversary of independence and the project representing Montenegro is not merely symbolic, but essential.

Speaking about the project itself, the Minister noted that the work of artist Siniša Radulović opens up space for reflecting on the relationship between heritage and contemporaneity, as well as the boundaries between the closed and the open, the stable and the mutable.

“Just like a state, art is built through the relationship between what defines us and what continues to evolve and improve. This is precisely where we see the importance of contemporary art as a space for dialogue, critical reflection, and understanding the times in which we live,” Vujović stated.

Curator Dr. Svetlana Racanović explained that the project is a complex multimedia environmental installation, specially conceived and adapted for the space in which the Montenegrin Pavilion is presented.

“In both conceptual and material terms, we realized a highly complex and demanding installation through which we sought to connect the digital and the analog, image and body, the rigid and the fluid,” Racanović emphasized.

Discussing the concept of the work, she stated that the project explores subtle relationships between space, image, and experience, creating a sensitive connection between different visual and emotional registers.

“We succeeded in finding a refined line of connection between different spaces, atmospheres, and states, through which both dystopian and warm, gentle tones emerge. After visiting numerous pavilions, I am convinced that we have every reason to be satisfied and proud of the project with which Montenegro is presenting itself at the Biennale,” Racanović concluded.

The Montenegrin Pavilion will be open to visitors from May 9 to November 22, 2026.