Last night, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro held the promotion of the publication “Montenegro Today,” which accompanies the exhibition of the same name. This exhibition aims to explore and showcase the diverse artistic practices of the contemporary Montenegrin art scene.

PhD Vladislav Šćepanović, Director of MCAM, emphasized that the project aims to present contemporary Montenegrin art to both domestic and international audiences. He noted that the “Montenegro Today” exhibition is intended to travel within Montenegro and internationally.

Marina Čelebić, one of the project coordinators, explained that the publication spans 159 pages, featuring an introductory text by the project coordinators and eleven authored texts by curators. The catalog documents 110 artworks by various artists and includes rich photographic documentation.

Čelebić highlighted the excellent cooperation among the curators during the project, noting that it was a product of significant teamwork. “From the first step, all participants brought positive energy, which was felt through studio visits, conversations, and exchanges of ideas. The direct relationship between artists and curators was of exceptional importance.”

Natalija Vujošević, curator of the segment “The Landscape Watching Us” located at Petrović Castle, mentioned that such research was missing from Montenegro’s cultural scene. “I believe this kind of project is necessary for articulating this scene and discovering the connections and potential of art while improving conditions for work and communication among curators, given that it is a collective project.”

Milica Bezmarević, curator of the “Identity” segment located at the House of The King’s Guard, discussed the exploration of national, religious, and gender identities within the context of contemporary art. “Far from being straightforward, the approach or interpretation of this framework in the context of the current scene attempts to view various images and impressions where identity or identities are depicted as a collage of their differences.”

Nikolina Zuber, curator of the “Fragments of a Dream” segment at the AFAM Art Pavilion, stated that the artists engage with their imagined universe, exploring within themselves, where emotions intertwine and opposites almost synchronize. “On this path, moving through the same space and time, they question the meaning of human existence, creating an alternative, a refuge, and peace. Their works represent a continuity that leads us into an endless story, not just a process but an imaginative way of expressing ideas and truths.”

Anja Marković, curator of the “Living Pictures” segment at the MCAM Gallery, mentioned that engaged art continuously reexamines its foundations and purpose, reflecting broader political realities. “This exhibition offers insight into the complexity of social and political issues in Montenegro, inviting the audience to reflect and actively participate in these topics. Artists continue to point out where it hurts, not because engaged art equates with harsh criticism, but because it reflects a desire for improvement.”

Vuk Vuković, curator of the “Technostructure” selection at the RTCG Gallery, highlighted that young Montenegrin artists, chosen for their focus on the impact of technology and architecture, primarily deal with the issue of space in the era of technocentrism. “They are interested in the tactile and sensory experience, being present in a world characterized by openness. They are mostly concerned with post-phenomenological exploration of the texture of space that transforms into dematerialized virtuality, a withdrawal into the network, signal, and flow, thus shifting space to where architecture becomes an artificial construct of a flickering trace.”

The exhibition is realized in five venues: Petrović Castle (curators Anita Čulafić, Maja Dedić, and Natalija Vujošević), the House of The King’s Guard (curators Natalija Đuranović and Milica Bezmarević), the MSUCG Gallery (curators Teodora Nikčević and Anja Marković), the ULUCG Art Pavilion (curators Biljana Keković and Nikolina Zuber), and the RTCG Gallery (curators Vuk Vuković and Andrea Pajković). It employs a comprehensive curatorial approach that connects artworks through common themes, motifs, compositions, and ideas.

The exhibition is open to visitors until September 6, 2024.