Art Exchange / Inspiration is a Gift

* christian falsnaes * mirko radonjić * christine kofler * petar vujović * alex ruthner * * teodora nikčević * nikolaus suchentrunk * adrijana gvozdenović * lilli thießen * tanja markuš *

October - November 2009

Supported by WUS AUStriA

Participating institutions:Faculty of Fine Arts CetinjeAcademy of Fine Arts Viennadepartment Expanded Pictorial Space Univ.-Prof. Daniel richter

Co-ordinators:Marko Markovićassistant-professor on Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje Marko Lulićassistant-professor on Academy of Fine Arts Viennadepartment Expanded Pictorial Space Univ.-Prof. Daniel richter

Participating artists:Christian Falsnaes Mirko RadonjićChristine KoflerPetar VujovićAlex ruthnerTeodora NikčevićNikolaus SuchentrunkAdrijana GvozdenovićLilli thießentanja Markuš

Project idea

the project Art Exchange: inspiration is a Gift was realized through the WUS Austria proposal for Innovative project ideas in the field of academic cooperation and exchange be-tween Austrian and Montenegrin higher education institutions.

The project was composed as a visit of the professor-assistant and five students from the Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje to the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and a pay-back visit of the Viennese students to Cetinje. Both visits took place in October and November 2009 and lasted twenty days each.

the main idea of the project was that every participating student/artist brings with himself/herself an object which, rooted in the tradition and culture he/she belongs to, carries in itself a certain meaning while at the same time has a special connotation for the artist as a particular source of inspiration. those objects (gifts) were given to the students from the other faculty. Artists used all available media, methods and interpretations that are in accordance with their creative principles to create two works of art: one that was based on their own object, but created in different surroundings and the other one that meant working with someone else’s source of inspiration. the created art-works, as the result of workshops and artists’ individual work, were presented in two exhibitions that were held at Atelierhaus, Vienna and at Biljarda – National Museum of Montenegro, Cetinje.

One of the project’s priorities was to bring forward the artistic individuality inside given cultural and traditional milieu, exploring the cultures and their phenomena trough sub-jective experience. though used to the intimacy of their own studios – their own symbols and means of motivation, the artists were asked to open themselves so they could give/receive some-thing as frail as inspiration. For them it was a chance to learn about other culture trough direct confrontation - by visiting it, working with its people and learning about their inspiration. in that manner the artistic experience was exchanged on cultural and personal level, while the partici-pants were educated both socially and emotionally.

Except for aiming at cooperation between art faculties from Cetinje and Vienna, and encouraging further mobility and exchange programs, the project was also refreshment inside common lecturing norms and methods, due to its focus on individual artists’ collaboration. the participating institutions were in a position to compare and analyze methodologies and working principles both in educational and pedagogical sense, as well as in the sense of contemporary art practices. Lastly the project’s educational dimension was transferred into audience: they were able to find out new things about these cultures, but also to learn about the creative process by being able to see art-works that are different interpretations with the same object as a starting point. this way the audience was also given the new angle of seeing and thinking about familiar phenomena.

Cultural differences are expected when the participating artists come from South-Eastern and Western Europe. But what makes one of the most important qualities of this project is a focus on the individual and his/hers concerns inside given systems. Communication be-tween these individuals and their working together is a basis for resolving these differences and a way for young artists to create a new kind of network.

the project Art Exchange: inspiration is a Gift was realized through the WUS Austria proposal for Innovative project ideas in the field of academic cooperation and exchange be-tween Austrian and Montenegrin higher education institutions.

The project was composed as a visit of the professor-assistant and five students from the Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje to the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and a pay-back visit of the Viennese students to Cetinje. Both visits took place in October and November 2009 and lasted twenty days each.

the main idea of the project was that every participating student/artist brings with himself/herself an object which, rooted in the tradition and culture he/she belongs to, carries in itself a certain meaning while at the same time has a special connotation for the artist as a particular source of inspiration. those objects (gifts) were given to the students from the other faculty. Artists used all available media, methods and interpretations that are in accordance with their creative principles to create two works of art: one that was based on their own object, but created in different surroundings and the other one that meant working with someone else’s source of inspiration. the created art-works, as the result of workshops and artists’ individual work, were presented in two exhibitions that were held at Atelierhaus, Vienna and at Biljarda – National Museum of Montenegro, Cetinje.

One of the project’s priorities was to bring forward the artistic individuality inside given cultural and traditional milieu, exploring the cultures and their phenomena trough sub-jective experience. though used to the intimacy of their own studios – their own symbols and means of motivation, the artists were asked to open themselves so they could give/receive some-thing as frail as inspiration. For them it was a chance to learn about other culture trough direct confrontation - by visiting it, working with its people and learning about their inspiration. in that manner the artistic experience was exchanged on cultural and personal level, while the partici-pants were educated both socially and emotionally.

Except for aiming at cooperation between art faculties from Cetinje and Vienna, and encouraging further mobility and exchange programs, the project was also refreshment inside common lecturing norms and methods, due to its focus on individual artists’ collaboration. the participating institutions were in a position to compare and analyze methodologies and working principles both in educational and pedagogical sense, as well as in the sense of contemporary art practices. Lastly the project’s educational dimension was transferred into audience: they were able to find out new things about these cultures, but also to learn about the creative process by being able to see art-works that are different interpretations with the same object as a starting point. this way the audience was also given the new angle of seeing and thinking about familiar phenomena.

Cultural differences are expected when the participating artists come from South-Eastern and Western Europe. But what makes one of the most important qualities of this project is a focus on the individual and his/hers concerns inside given systems. Communication be-tween these individuals and their working together is a basis for resolving these differences and a way for young artists to create a new kind of network.

Cetinje - Vienna Works

Adrijana Gvozdenovićborn 1986 in Podgorica, Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje2008 BA Graphics2010 Spec.Sci Multimedia Graphics

ContactAtelierhaus - Vienna

Gift that i brought to Vienna is a ball of wool string, which hasn’t been used before in my work in any way, but i carried the thought that it was a challenge for me (and maybe for the project) to work in new conditions with something i felt could be an inspirational object.in diptych 'Contact' i have used transparent layers of paint with colors that give an impression of fresco paintings and sewed wool yarn in some areas. i wanted a moment of touch to be brought to a sacred moment, inspired by the material of wool (which carries a certain symbolism and meaning) as well as an art form of a woolen thread.this work for me was entirely an experiment, in which i wanted to see how much different and new can i cope with (environment, time, deadlines, theme, medium), which is why i'm still not sure what is my relation to it.

Adrijana Gvozdenovićborn 1986 in Podgorica, Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje2008 BA Graphics2010 Spec.Sci Multimedia Graphics

ContactAtelierhaus - Vienna

Gift that i brought to Vienna is a ball of wool string, which hasn’t been used before in my work in any way, but i carried the thought that it was a challenge for me (and maybe for the project) to work in new conditions with something i felt could be an inspirational object.in diptych 'Contact' i have used transparent layers of paint with colors that give an impression of fresco paintings and sewed wool yarn in some areas. i wanted a moment of touch to be brought to a sacred moment, inspired by the material of wool (which carries a certain symbolism and meaning) as well as an art form of a woolen thread.this work for me was entirely an experiment, in which i wanted to see how much different and new can i cope with (environment, time, deadlines, theme, medium), which is why i'm still not sure what is my relation to it.

SovereigntyBiljarda - Cetinje

the gift i have received was a disc, with recorded material of artistic work of my colleague, in which he was painting information white on the streets of Vienna. this item was not so much inspiration as it was encouragement for the continuation of my earlier research in art.in my work ‘Sovereignty' (done with daily newspaper ) i deleted information by painting them white, in that way that text remains more as an art-element, and the impres-sion you get while reading it is subtle, romantic and purify-ing. Such thought could be a part of every-day life.

SovereigntyBiljarda - Cetinje

the gift i have received was a disc, with recorded material of artistic work of my colleague, in which he was painting information white on the streets of Vienna. this item was not so much inspiration as it was encouragement for the continuation of my earlier research in art.in my work ‘Sovereignty' (done with daily newspaper ) i deleted information by painting them white, in that way that text remains more as an art-element, and the impres-sion you get while reading it is subtle, romantic and purify-ing. Such thought could be a part of every-day life.

Christian Falsnaesborn 1980 in Copenhagen, Denmark

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna8th semester – Expanded Pictorial Space

Head banger DVD-Pal, colorAtelierhaus – Vienna

The present I received in Vienna was a string of hair from Mirko Radonjić. He explained how the hair was supposed to symbolize the power or force transported through art, since hair, according to mythology, obtains the power of the owner.As a response to that, i put on a wig of long black hair resembling the look of a heavy metal fan, went to a subway station, soaked my wig in black paint and engaged myself in head banging. Hereby the walls of the subway station were painted indirectly, as a result of the act.

Christian Falsnaesborn 1980 in Copenhagen, Denmark

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna8th semester – Expanded Pictorial Space

Head banger DVD-Pal, colorAtelierhaus – Vienna

The present I received in Vienna was a string of hair from Mirko Radonjić. He explained how the hair was supposed to symbolize the power or force transported through art, since hair, according to mythology, obtains the power of the owner.As a response to that, i put on a wig of long black hair resembling the look of a heavy metal fan, went to a subway station, soaked my wig in black paint and engaged myself in head banging. Hereby the walls of the subway station were painted indirectly, as a result of the act.

Ich finde die Landschaft hier auch einfach so geil!DVD-Pal, colorBiljarda – Cetinje

i brought a DVD to Cetinje, containing documentation of a series of paint actions in the streets of Vienna. i wanted the receiver to deal with the public space of Cet-inje as opposed to the urban space of Vienna. As a response to my own present, i went to a mountain a bit outside of the town along with a camera and a group of Montenegrin girls. Here I performed a tribute to the landscape including masturbation, ecstatic dance, live music and a number of seemingly purposeless rituals.

Ich finde die Landschaft hier auch einfach so geil!DVD-Pal, colorBiljarda – Cetinje

i brought a DVD to Cetinje, containing documentation of a series of paint actions in the streets of Vienna. i wanted the receiver to deal with the public space of Cet-inje as opposed to the urban space of Vienna. As a response to my own present, i went to a mountain a bit outside of the town along with a camera and a group of Montenegrin girls. Here I performed a tribute to the landscape including masturbation, ecstatic dance, live music and a number of seemingly purposeless rituals.

Mirko Radonjićborn 1984 in Podgorica, Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje2008 BA Painting2009 Spec.Sci Painting

semi... ready... made... – GO!installationdrawing 50 x 70 cm, objects variableBiljarda – Cetinje

the gift-objects for this work were birds. Due to the circumstances, i did not really receive my gift. i had to work only with the idea. i took wooden geometrical blocks, once used as study-aids in a long closed school, and considered the ways they could be constructed into a bird. that consideration be-came the drawing, and blocks were exhibited for a viewer to try and make a bird of his own, a symbol just for himself/herself.

Mirko Radonjićborn 1984 in Podgorica, Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje2008 BA Painting2009 Spec.Sci Painting

semi... ready... made... – GO!installationdrawing 50 x 70 cm, objects variableBiljarda – Cetinje

the gift-objects for this work were birds. Due to the circumstances, i did not really receive my gift. i had to work only with the idea. i took wooden geometrical blocks, once used as study-aids in a long closed school, and considered the ways they could be constructed into a bird. that consideration be-came the drawing, and blocks were exhibited for a viewer to try and make a bird of his own, a symbol just for himself/herself.

WALL-PAPER-HAIRWALL-HAIR-PAPERHAIR-PAPER-WALLwall-installationdimensions variableAtelierhaus – Vienna

The work itself is a wall-installation – a reflection on energy and ways it can be transmitted, as described in the title. The wall, a dead thing which silently absorbs the energy of events played in front of it. Hair – dead body cells, which are believed to be the carrier of its owners′ energy even after being cut of, with its strange potential to grow for a while even six feet under. And paper – a drawing, whose mere physical presence is overcome with the possibility to communicate through its energy. Spirit over matter.

WALL-PAPER-HAIRWALL-HAIR-PAPERHAIR-PAPER-WALLwall-installationdimensions variableAtelierhaus – Vienna

The work itself is a wall-installation – a reflection on energy and ways it can be transmitted, as described in the title. The wall, a dead thing which silently absorbs the energy of events played in front of it. Hair – dead body cells, which are believed to be the carrier of its owners′ energy even after being cut of, with its strange potential to grow for a while even six feet under. And paper – a drawing, whose mere physical presence is overcome with the possibility to communicate through its energy. Spirit over matter.

Lilli Thießenborn 1983 in

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna8th semester - Expanded Pictorial Space

Biljarda – Cetinje

VIENNA: You brought me tinned fish MONtENEGrO: You brought a book from thomas B.ViENNA: i tasted it and used his oilMONtENEGrO: Fish-eyeViENNA: Big Space - tiny thingsMONtENEGrO: Where the Guy used to play billiardVIENNA: Eye in HorrorhilllsMONtENEGrO: i read hospital and saw paper

Lilli Thießenborn 1983 in

VIENNA: You brought me tinned fish MONtENEGrO: You brought a book from thomas B.ViENNA: i tasted it and used his oilMONtENEGrO: Fish-eyeViENNA: Big Space - tiny thingsMONtENEGrO: Where the Guy used to play billiardVIENNA: Eye in HorrorhilllsMONtENEGrO: i read hospital and saw paper

"Pilgrim"Atelierhaus – Vienna

Lamp,Cardboard,sleeping bag,bowl with oil,collage,painting(oil on canvas)installation Vienna,Austria2009

"Pilgrim"Atelierhaus – Vienna

Lamp,Cardboard,sleeping bag,bowl with oil,collage,painting(oil on canvas)installation Vienna,Austria2009

Petar VujovićBorn 1986 in Cetinje, Montenegro

Biljarda - Cetinje

“Hospital”“In Reality”

Petar VujovićBorn 1986 in Cetinje, Montenegro

Biljarda - Cetinje

“Hospital”“In Reality”

“The fish eye” , Atelierhaus – Vienna, Video - 2’ : 47’’

Alex RuthnerBorn

Atelierhaus – Vienna

In 1942 Marchel Duchamp installed his work “Mile of string” at the “First Papers of Surrealism” exhibition in New York. He stretched pieces of string through the exhibition space and influenced the view on the paintings and the perception of space. i chose the Surrealists spontaneously as an example for realizing projects and theories as a group, the definition as a collective and an international relationship of artists. the little oil-painting on the wall shows the inner circle of the surrealists around Andre Breton. the Surrealists developed their texts, poems and titles often together after the “silent-post“-principle, adding seem-ingly loose nouns and adjectives, to finally develop a final solution all together. In front of the painting, on the floor, a (robot) cat is playing with a ball of string, which I have received before from a guest from Montenegro. the subject “cat-playing-with-a-ball-of-string“ stands for the artist and his work, his material, installed against the backdrop of the tradition to appear as a group.

Alex RuthnerBorn

Atelierhaus – Vienna

In 1942 Marchel Duchamp installed his work “Mile of string” at the “First Papers of Surrealism” exhibition in New York. He stretched pieces of string through the exhibition space and influenced the view on the paintings and the perception of space. i chose the Surrealists spontaneously as an example for realizing projects and theories as a group, the definition as a collective and an international relationship of artists. the little oil-painting on the wall shows the inner circle of the surrealists around Andre Breton. the Surrealists developed their texts, poems and titles often together after the “silent-post“-principle, adding seem-ingly loose nouns and adjectives, to finally develop a final solution all together. In front of the painting, on the floor, a (robot) cat is playing with a ball of string, which I have received before from a guest from Montenegro. the subject “cat-playing-with-a-ball-of-string“ stands for the artist and his work, his material, installed against the backdrop of the tradition to appear as a group.

After my arrival and the quick socializing with the locals in Cetinje i started a group of small scale paintings, committed to a certain kind of realism. in the late 19th century Eduard Manet painted “the Absinthdrinker“. Manet creates the portrait of a failed, a stranded on the beach of pointlessness. i transferred these themes of desire, doubt and craving in a series of daily life scenes I found in local newspapers, I saw on the street or in the infamous bar “Twin Peaks”. in contradistinction to the Viennese show three weeks before these works deal with the fate of the individual.

Teodora Nikčevićborn 1986 in Nikšić, Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje2008 BA Painting2009 Spec.Sci painting

relaxe, take it easyphoto-collage130x90 cmBiljarda - Cetinje

A bottle which holds a liquid out of medical herbs that relaxes the muscles. that is the object i have received.Believing in complete relaxation i have left myself opened to death, so I levitate with pieces of my body separated. A flower grows from my mouth, and between petals worms are dancing.

Teodora Nikčevićborn 1986 in Nikšić, Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje2008 BA Painting2009 Spec.Sci painting

relaxe, take it easyphoto-collage130x90 cmBiljarda - Cetinje

A bottle which holds a liquid out of medical herbs that relaxes the muscles. that is the object i have received.Believing in complete relaxation i have left myself opened to death, so I levitate with pieces of my body separated. A flower grows from my mouth, and between petals worms are dancing.

Sweet Little Futureaquarelle and pigment on paper100x140 cmAtelierhaus - Vienna

My gifts were sugar-cubes.And my work is a large aquarelle, in which if you take a closer look „Sweet Little Future” reveals itself as an illusion that is coming out. it appears, gains its’ body and becomes present.

Sweet Little Futureaquarelle and pigment on paper100x140 cmAtelierhaus - Vienna

My gifts were sugar-cubes.And my work is a large aquarelle, in which if you take a closer look „Sweet Little Future” reveals itself as an illusion that is coming out. it appears, gains its’ body and becomes present.

Christine Kofler

Atelierhaus – ViennaBiljarda - Cetinje

For the exhibition in Vienna i got sugar as a present from teodora, as a symbol of innocence.i took some Franzbranntwein to Montenegro as a symbol of tension and relaxation.

My work is about duality and history

Christine Kofler

Atelierhaus – ViennaBiljarda - Cetinje

For the exhibition in Vienna i got sugar as a present from teodora, as a symbol of innocence.i took some Franzbranntwein to Montenegro as a symbol of tension and relaxation.

My work is about duality and history

the ex Flag

triptych, 120x40cmtempera and oil on canvasBiljarda - Cetinje

the gift i received was a Mozart chocolate, the round one with full portrait on top. We haven’t produced our Lubarda candy yet. National pride lies in the Dead, the living ones being material awaiting deployment. On the ex flag, the Ex, the last brave ones. As a reminder.

Tanja markušborn 1981 in titograd, Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje2008 BA Painting

the ex Flag

triptych, 120x40cmtempera and oil on canvasBiljarda - Cetinje

the gift i received was a Mozart chocolate, the round one with full portrait on top. We haven’t produced our Lubarda candy yet. National pride lies in the Dead, the living ones being material awaiting deployment. On the ex flag, the Ex, the last brave ones. As a reminder.

Tanja markušborn 1981 in titograd, Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje2008 BA Painting

Magic is as sexy as deathmixed media, 90x50cmAtelierhaus - Vienna

the gift, Achillea Millefolium, plant believed to have different magical and healing powers. Blood, love, fear: secrets are safe as death.

Nikolaus Suchentrunkborn 1978 in Bregenz, Austria

Academy of Fine Art Vienna8th semester – Expanded Pictorial Space

Mother Nature Shootoutvideo DVD-pal 4:19minAtelierhaus – Vienna

the object i received was a fragile medical plant, which grows in some areas of Montenegro.The plant has a variety of medical uses, especially healing wounds and stop bleedings. Hence I made a video reversing the special skill of the plant, in which people shoot/hurt plants to see if the plants can heal themselves…

Nikolaus Suchentrunkborn 1978 in Bregenz, Austria

Academy of Fine Art Vienna8th semester – Expanded Pictorial Space

Mother Nature Shootoutvideo DVD-pal 4:19minAtelierhaus – Vienna

the object i received was a fragile medical plant, which grows in some areas of Montenegro.The plant has a variety of medical uses, especially healing wounds and stop bleedings. Hence I made a video reversing the special skill of the plant, in which people shoot/hurt plants to see if the plants can heal themselves…

Birdsinstallation, mixed media:sculpture (rubber) 20x20 cmprint on plastic foil 63x50 cmvideo DVD pal 0:21min

the present i brought to Montenegro was a number of simple plastic birds. the bird as a symbol has multiple meanings, but the most obvious connection to Austria is the eagle being the heraldic animal. the plastic birds do not just stand for Austria though. Most of the birds are not sta-tionary so they could be considered the cosmopolitans among animals. i made an installation referring to birds combined with a variety of ab-stract forms, including image, video and sculpture.

Birdsinstallation, mixed media:sculpture (rubber) 20x20 cmprint on plastic foil 63x50 cmvideo DVD pal 0:21min

the present i brought to Montenegro was a number of simple plastic birds. the bird as a symbol has multiple meanings, but the most obvious connection to Austria is the eagle being the heraldic animal. the plastic birds do not just stand for Austria though. Most of the birds are not sta-tionary so they could be considered the cosmopolitans among animals. i made an installation referring to birds combined with a variety of ab-stract forms, including image, video and sculpture.

Publishers:University of Montenegro

Faculty of Fine Arts CetinjeAcademy of Fine Arts Vienna

For publisher:Predrag Miranović

rector of the University of MontenegroNenad Šoškić

Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts Cetinje

Project idea:Teodora Nikčević and Mirko Radonjić

text:Mirko Radonjić

Photo:Participating artists

Design and layout:Petar Vujović

Press:DPC, Podgorica - Grafotisak

Circulation:500

Supported by:WUS AUStriA

Austrian Development AgencyFaculty of Fine Arts Cetinje

Academy of Fine Arts ViennaUniversity of Montenegro

National Museum of Mntenegro