Archeology of Resistance: Corrective for the Future
Podroom Gallery, Trg Republike 5/I
25. 1 ─ 24. 2. 2024
Artists: Andreja Dugandžić, Alisija Grulon, Hristina Ivanoska, Katia Kameli, Mónica de Miranda, SIDE kolektiv
Curator: Iva Kovač
Archeology of Resistance: Corrective for the Future is an exhibition project inspired by multiple contributions in the field of mapping and documenting different forms of feminist struggle, with a special focus on the importance of archives for social movements. Having in mind that feminist art engages with feminist politics, and a great deal of archival work (in the broader sense of the word – as contributing to historicizing rather than necessarily adding material to existing or creating new public or private archives) has been done through contemporary art research-based and documentary practices, the project presents a selection of works that address both historical and contemporary expressions of female* resistance.
The exhibition was curated by Iva Kovač and initially presented as part of the program of the 29th Edition of the City of Women Festival in October 2023 in Ljubljana. A reworked concept of the show crafted for the Belgrade audiences features the works by Andreja Dugandžić, Katia Kameli, Mónica de Miranda, and Hristina Ivanoska which examine historical figures and movements and bring them to public attention, while the works by Alicia Grullon and the SIDE collective, invent strategies to intervene in contemporary reality. In her book The Archival Turn in Feminism, Kate Eichorn proclaims that “contemporary feminism is as much about shoring up a younger generation’s legacy and honoring elders as it is about imagining and working to build possible worlds in the present and for the future.” Under the same premises, the project Archeology of Resistance: Corrective for the Future, while being rooted in retrospection has a future-oriented agenda.
*Under the terms female and women, we understand cisgender, transgender, and intersex women.
Accompanying program of the exhibition:
Thursday, January 25, at 6 p.m.
Guided tour through the exhibition with curator Ivo Kovač
Wednesday, February 14, at 7 p.m.
Presentation of the book “Invisible Archive: Macedonian Woman – Organ of AFŽ (1944-1952), Historical Experiences and Cultural Memory”
Participants in the conversation: Jana Kocevska and Manja Veličkovska, moderated by: Jelena Nidžović, editor of the KCB literary and debate program
Thursday, February 22, at 7 p.m.
“Correction for the future”, panel discussion
Participants: Urška Jež, executive producer of the feminist organization Mesto Žensk, Ivana Smiljanić, visual artist and Jelen Višnjić, one of the founders and editors of the festival of feminist culture and action BeFem.
By expanding on the themes explored in the current exhibition, the discussion will explore feminist organizing in the region and the essential support structures that empower artistic productions by women and gender non-conforming artists.
Friday, February 23, at 1 p.m.
Embodyment of Decoloniality
workshop with Samar Zughool, one of the members of the SIDE collective
Embodying Decoloniality is a public performative journey that uses performing arts and dance therapy techniques to navigate and unpack emancipatory communication. The workshop is inspired by the novel “A Tree Like Rain” by Samar Habib and is part of the SAMA public performative journeys and Community arts series.