Momi by HDLU

MOMI Kristina Hadzieva, Ana Ivanovska, Maja Kirovska, Tatjana Ristovska, Marija Sotirovska, Hristina Zafirovska, Zorica Zafirovska Otvorenje izložbe održat će se 05. prosinca 2014. u 19 sati | Opening of the exhibition on 5th of December at 7:00 pm Galerija Karas | 05. prosinca - 20. prosinca 2014. Karas Gallery | December 05 - December 20, 2014

Marija Sotirovska, “CURCLE”, 2014., 140x140, graphite on paper, lampion/grafit na papiru, lampion

Resist! What?

Postoji nekoliko činjenica koje se ne mogu zanemariti pri definiranju pozicije i analizi značenja umjetničke skupine ”MOMI“ u okvirima lokalne makedonske scene iz koje potječu i unutar koje većinom djeluju i predstavljaju svoj rad. Odnos prema neizbježnoj rodnoj odrednici ove skupine vidljiv je i u njezinom imenu – “MOMI“ (arhaizam koji u prijevodu znači “djevojke“). Skupina se sastoji od sedam mladih umjetnica - Zorice Zafirovske, Hristine Zafirovske, Ane Ivanovske, Maje Kirovske, Tatjane Ristovske, Marije Sotirovske i Kristine Hadzieve koje zajednički nastupaju u zemlji i regiji od 2012. godine. S obzirom na to da su vršnjakinje, većina ih sudjeluje i na značajnijim umjetničkim događanjima u Makedoniji za mlade umjetnike, a već neko vrijeme aktivno sudjeluju i u radu A.R.T. instituta u Skoplju. Intenzivna aktivnost umjetnica skupine “MOMI“, koje nastupaju u grupi, ali i samostalno, kao i njihov utjecaj, temelje se na dominantnoj invaziji svih raspoloživih prostora, bilo da se radi o galeriji i/ili otvorenom prostoru, institucionalnom i/ili nezavisnom/ alternativnom izlaganju, koja odražava višu razinu svijesti njihova ne-elitističkog odnosa prema umjetnosti i djelovanje kroz stalnu prisutnost.

Defining the position and analyzing the meaning of the art group “MOMI” within the frames of the local Macedonian scene from which they originate, and where they are dominantly working and representing themselves, there are few facts that cannot be set aside. The relation with the inevitable gender determination of this group is in its turn in relation with its name – “MOMI” (the translation of this archaism would be “Girls”); It is composed of seven young female artists - Zorica Zafirovska, Hristina Zafirovska, Ana Ivanovska, Maja Kirovska, Tatjana Ristovska, Marija Sotirovska and Kristina Hadzieva who have been performing together in the country and the region since 2012. Being peers, most of them are part of the major art events in Macedonia which include young artists, and they have been active within the A.R.T. Institute in Skopje for some time now. The intense activity of the female artists of “MOMI”, who perform both in group and individually, as well as their influence, is based on the dominant invasion of every amenable space, whether a gallery and/or open space, institutional and/or independent/ alternative presentations, and it reflects a higher awareness of their non-elitist attitude towards art and action through constant presence.

Umjetnice skupine “MOMI“ svoje kreativno i kritičko djelovanje ostvaruju unutar određene teme u široj perspektivi potvrđivanja vlastitih pozicija, ne samo unutar lokalne umjetničke scene, nego i u regiji. Iako su vrlo različite po senzibilitetu i osobnim umjetničkim interesima, njihovo zajedničko djelovanje stvara homogenu grupu čiji se interesi pretežito temelje na univerzalnim humanističkim i kritičkim temama kroz bavljenje ženskim principom u svim sferama stvaranja i djelovanja. U svojim radovima “MOMI“ daje ironične i duhovite odgovore na mnoga etička pitanja koja utječu na život pojedinca, potaknuta različitim temama iz svakodnevnog života – socijalnom patologijom, ekonomskim uvjetima, politikom, društvenim i rodnim pitanjima... Zbog njihove heterogenosti izlaganja im gravitiraju oko jedne, obično neodređene teme, koja otvara širok prostor za višestruka tumačenja različitih aspekata. Prema riječima skupine “MOMI“, izložba pod naslovom “Resist! What?” otvara još jednu mogućnost dvostrukog tumačenja – kao otpor (resistance) i oduprijeti se (to resist) – u smislu kritičke svijesti i otpora određenim represivnim društvenim anomalijama; socijalnoj i ekonomskoj nesigurnosti, rodnim/kulturnim stereotipima; svakodnevnoj globalnoj i društvenoj komunikaciji...ali i kao potreba/nužda/ želja/namjera “za ustrajanjem“ u suočavanju s izazovima “radosnih životnih trenutaka“ i samozadovoljstva, odnosno humanistički, hedonistički, čak i zabavno dekadentan “čin stvaranja i postojanja“. Kristina Hadzieva svoj rad “Landscape of my soul” temelji na osebujnom umjetničkom rukopisu; ovdje se intimnost čina stvaranja kao “kanala kreativne sveznajuće energije“ prevodi u ritmičku i dinamičku kompoziciju koja odaje dojam radosti življenja kojoj se teško oduprijeti. U svojoj ambijentalnoj instalaciji intenzivnih boja, pod naslovom “All the Colors of Autumn“, Ana Ivanovska neprekidno

The female authors of the art group “MOMI” realize their creative and critical operation within the frames of a certain core in a broader perspective of confirmation of their positions not only within the local art scene, but also in the region. Although quite divergent in its sensibility and individual artistic interests, the joint operation of these female authors creates a homogeneous group whose interest is based predominantly on universal humanistic and critical topics of interest by touching the female principle in all spheres of creation and operation. In their works “MOMI” offer ironic and witty answers to many ethical issues that affect the individual, and which are initiated by a variety of topics from the everyday life - social pathology, economic conditions, politics, social and gender issues... Their heterogeneity requires representations to gravitate around one typically ambiguous theme which offers wide space for multiple interpretations of different aspects. According to “MOMI”, the exhibition with the title “Resist! What?” gives another opportunity for two fold interpretation - as resistance and to resist - as in critical awareness and resistance to certain repressive social anomalies; socio-economic insecurity, gender/cultural stereotypes; daily global and social communication... but in its contrast and also as a need/necessity/desire/intention to “persist” in facing the challenges of “joyful life moments” and self-satisfaction, that is, a humanistic, hedonistic, even fun decadent “act of creation and existence.” Kristina Hadzieva is basing her work “Landscape of my soul” on, for her, distinctive artistic colorful handwriting; here the intimacy of the act of creation as “a channel of the creative omniscient energy” is translated into rhythmic and dynamic compositions that reflect certain impression of the joy of living that could not be resisted. Ana Ivanovska in her ambient colorfully intensive installation titled “All the Colors of

Kristina Hadzieva, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Landscape from my Soulâ&#x20AC;?, 2014., 60x80, acrylic, tempera, madiapan/akril, tempera, mediapan

Maja Kirovska, “Happiness (false four-leaf clover)”, 2014., variable dimensions/promjenjive dimenzije, installation: 13 books with dry plants on them and video/instalacija: 13 knjiga s posušenim biljkama i video

posebnu pažnju posvećuje senzualnom i u potpunosti kontemplativnom iskustvu neodoljivo jednostavnih trenutaka koji slave život.

Autumn”, continuously pays particular attention to both the sensual and the complete contemplative experience of the irresistible simple moments that celebrate life.

U svom radu “Happiness (false four-leaf clover)“ Maja Kirovska ironično prikazuje otpor prema površnim sredstvima/praznovjerjima i obrascima ponašanja koje ljudi koriste kako bi postigli željenu sreću; koristeći “lažnu“ djetelinu s četiri lista kao simbol površnih vrijednosti. “Synthesizing happiness“, rad Tatjane Ristovske, rezultat je izvjesnog kompulzivnog meditativnog procesa stvaranja, a simbolizira strah i otpor prema nametnutim modelima ponašanja kroz (ne) ispoljavanje “iskrenih“ ljudskih emocija u online komunikaciji, što pak izravno utječe na ponašanje, reakcije i prihvaćanje pojedinca u “sigurnoj zoni“ društvenih krugova. Krug kao odraz vječnog cikličkog kretanja i promjene te ogledalo kao odraz i samoanaliza, elementi su koji se kao konstanta provlače kroz mnoge radovima Marije Sotirovske; u ovom se slučaju beskrajan niz riječi odnosi na generirani i nametnuti osobni ili društveni model otpora (po osobnom izboru) u odnosu na neke od navedenih pojmova.

Maja Kirovska in her work “Happiness (false four-leaf clover)” ironically represents the resistance towards the superficial tools/superstitions and patterns of behavior that people use to achieve desired happiness; using “false” fourleaf clover as a symbol of superficial values. “Synthesizing happiness” by Tatjana Ristovska is a result of certain compulsive meditative process of creation, symbolizes the fear and resistance to imposed models of behavior through (not) expressing “sincere” human emotions in on-line communication, which in turn directly affects behavior, reactions and acceptance of the individual in the “safe zone” in the social circles. The circle as a reflection of the eternal cyclic movement and change and the mirror as a reflection and selfanalysis, are elements that are constant in many works of Marija Sotirovska; in this case the endless string of words refers to the generated and imposed personal or social model of resistance (by personal choice) in respect to some of the mentioned terms.

Kombiniranjem nekoliko pop-art obrazaca izražavanja, u projektu “WO-MAN“, Hristina Zafirovska daje osobnu post-feminističku kritiku i pruža otpor prema rastućoj stereotipnoj manipulaciji i iskorištavanju žena u marketinškoj industriji (na temelju fizičkog izgleda), gdje se, gotovo bez iznimke, funkcija žene definira kao sinonim za reprodukciju

Combining several pop-art expression patterns, the project titled “WO-MAN” by Hristina Zafirovska offers a personal post-feminist criticism and resistance towards the growing stereotyped manipulation and exploitation of women in the marketing industry (based on physical appearance), where almost without exception, the function of a woman is

Ana Ivanovska, “All the Colors of Autumn”, 2014., 400x50

Tatjana Ristovska, “Synthesizing happiness - Emoticons”, 2014., 110x120 and 120x150, plywood, fabric, a sponge/ šperploča, tkanina, spužva

i seksualnost. Zorica Zafirovska njeguje vrlo angažirani pristup ozbiljnim problemima suvremenog društva. “Patriarchal Domination“, kao i njezini dosadašnji radovi, identificira oblike i metode brutalne diskriminacije različitoga te ih otvoreno pokušava slomiti kroz kritičku analizu bilo koje vrste ugnjetavanja i iskorištavanja, nasilja i kršenja temeljnih ljudskih prava od strane države, religije, tradicije šovinističkog društva u cjelini.

defined as a synonym for reproduction and sexuality. Zorica Zafirovska cultivates highly engaged approach to serious issues of the contemporary society. Her work “Patriarchal Domination”, as well as her previous work, identifies the forms and methods of brutal discrimination of the different, and through critical analysis of any type of oppression and exploitation, violence and violation of basic human rights by the state, religion, tradition chauvinistic society in general, is openly trying to break them.

Umjesto zaključka, nameće se sažetak koji se odnosi na prethodno utvrđen stav ovih sedam dama skupine “MOMI“, kao sedam različitih umjetničkih senzibiliteta – duhovitih, ironičnih, čak sarkastičnih, šarenih i razigranih, ali i ozbiljnih, osjetljivih i proturječnih, lucidnih i odvažnih analitičarki i kritičarki suvremenosti - koje uvijek iznova i sve znatiželjnije postavljaju pitanja i daju svoje vlastite iskrene i izravne odgovore kroz optimistična estetska tumačenja vizualnih umjetnosti od univerzalnih životnih iskustava do analize društvenih problema... te uporno njeguju svoju znatiželju za tumačenjem beskrajnog niza osobnih, društvenih i svih bezvremenskih tema koje možemo zamisliti.

Instead of conclusion, a summary imposes itself, related to the previously established attitude of the seven ladies of “MOMI” as seven different artistic sensibilities - witty, ironic, even sarcastic, colorfully playful but also serious, sensitive and contradictory, lucid and bold analysts and critics of modernity – repeatedly and more curiously ask questions and offer their personal honest and direct answers through optimistic aesthetic interpretations of visual arts through universal life experiences, to the analysis of social problems... and persistently cultivate their curiosity for interpretation of the endless series of personal, social and timeless themes that we can imagine.

Maja Chankulovska-Mihajlovska

Hristina Zafirovska, “WO-MAN”, 2014., variable dimensions/promjenjive dimenzije, installation/instalacija

“MOMI” skupina od sedam umjetnika

“MOMI” group of 7 artists

2014. - “Resist! What?” Galerija Karas, Zagreb, Hrvatska - “To persist in the circle” Kulturno-informativni centar (KIC) Skopje, Republika Makedonija - “SMALL THINGS (with capital letters)”, “AKSC” Skopje, Republika Makedonija

2014. - “Resist! What?” Karas Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia - “To persist in the circle” Cultural Informative Center (KIC) Skopje, R. Macedonia - “SMALL THINGS (with capital letters)”, “AKSC” Skopje, R. Macedonia

2013. - “Multitude, Deity, Birth” Kulturno-informativni centar Republike Makedonije u Sofiji, Bugarska - “Multitude, Deity, Birth” Galerija “Podroom” Kulturni centar Beograda, Srbija - “Semicircling” Cultural Centre “Gligor Prlicev” Ohrid, Republika Makedonija - “MOMI II” Dok kulture, Galerija “Kocho Racin” KORA Skopje, R. Makedonija - “TABOO” Međunarodni festival suvremene umjetnosti “NUS” Split, Hrvatska

2013. - “Multitude, Deity, Birth” Cultural and Information Centre of the Republic Macedonia in Sofia, Bulgaria - “Multitude, Deity, Birth” Art Gallery “Podroom” The Cultural Centar of Belgrade, Serbia - “Semicircling” Cultural Centre “Gligor Prlicev” Ohrid, R. Macedonia - “MOMI II” House of Culture “Kocho Racin” Gallery KO-RA Skopje, R. Macedonia - “TABOO” International Festival of Contemporary Art “NUS” Split, Croatia

2012. - “Kiss in the mouth” MOMI Dom kulture “Ivan Mazov-Klime” Kavadarci, R. Makedonija - “Good Vibes” Multimedijalni festival “Bosh” Gevgelija, R. Macedonia - “MOMI” Kinoteka Makedonije, Skopje, R. Makedonija

2012. - “Kiss in the mouth” MOMI House of Culture “Ivan Mazov-Klime”Kavadarci, R. Macedonia - “Good Vibes” Multimedia Art Festival “Bosh” Gevgelija, R. Macedonia - “MOMI” Film Archive of Macedonia Skopje, R. Macedonia

Zorica Zafirovska, “Personal plan of fighting patriarchy”, 2014., variable dimensions/promjenjive dimenzije, notepads/bilješke

Hrvatsko društvo likovnih umjetnika | Croatian Association of Fine Artists Galerija Karas | Karas Gallery Praška 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia | www.hdlu.hr Radno vrijeme: utorak - petak 11 - 19 h, subota i nedjelja 10 - 14 h; zatvoreno ponedjeljkom i blagdanom. Working hours: Tuesday - Friday 11 am – 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 2 pm; closed on Mondays and holidays.

IMPRESUM Nakladnik / Publisher | Hrvatsko društvo likovnih umjetnika / Croatian Association of Fine Artists, Trg žrtava fašizma 16, 10 000 Zagreb, hdlu@hdlu.hr, www.hdlu.hr | Za nakladnika / For the publisher Josip Zanki | Upravni odbor HDLU / Executive board of HDLU Josip Zanki (predsjednik / president), Tomislav Buntak (zamjenik predsjednika / vicepresident), Fedor Vučemilović (zamjenik predsjednika / vicepresident), Gordana Bakić, Ivan Fijolić, Koraljka Kovač Dugandžić, Anita Kuharić Smrekar | Umjetnički savjet Galerije Karas / Artistic board of Karas Gallery Branka Benčić, Martina Mezak, Sara Čičić, Ivana Vukšić | Ravnateljica / Director Ivana Andabaka | Stručna suradnica / Associate Mia Orsag | Predgovor / Preface Maja Chankulovska-Mihajlovska | Grafičko oblikovanje kataloga / Catalogue Design Zdravko Horvat | Fotografija / Photography Marko Ercegović | Prijevod / Translation Zana Šaškin | Tisak / Printed by Cerovski | Naklada / Copies 150 Izložba je realizirana uz financijsku potporu Ministarstva kulture Republike Hrvatske i Gradskog ureda za kulturu, obrazovanje i sport Grada Zagreba / The exhibition is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic Croatia and by the City Office for Culture, Education and Sports Zagreb.