The Podgorica Art Salon “Cancelled,” held at the Modern Gallery, has awarded the prestigious Grand Prize to artist Aleksandar Ostojić. The exhibition, which opened last night, also recognized Tanja Markuš and Dante Buu as recipients of equal prizes. The jury, composed of Ana Frangovska, Jelena Tomašević, and Aleksandra Butorović, selected Ostojić for his work titled “Pet kvadrata,” Markuš for “FUTUREPROOF,” and Buu for “ANTIFAing.”
The exhibition curator, Selma Andrijašević, noted during the opening that the inspiration for this exhibition stemmed from an unopened exhibition in Belgrade from 1974. At that time, during the socialist regime, the decision was made to postpone its unveiling. Andrijašević explained, “Drawing from this historical situation, the exhibition before us aims to represent our 1974 and to offer a reflection of the reality shaped over the past thirty years.”
The exhibition seeks to artistically replicate the realities of a society influenced by various ideologies, not limited to political ones. Andrijašević emphasized that the artistic showcase does not respond to daily occurrences but instead reflects the characteristics and consequences of the times experienced.
The Podgorica Art Salon features the works of 14 Montenegrin artists from younger and middle generations, expressing themselves through various visual media. The participating artists include Dante Buu, Marko Čakalović, Srđa Dragović, Vladimir Dado Đuranović, Gordana Kuč, Tanja Markuš, Lidija Nikčević, Teodora Nikčević, Aleksandar Ostojić, Stefan Todorović, Jovan Vorotović, Milena Vukoslavović, Milica Živković, and Zoran Živković.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until January 30, 2024, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage with the diverse expressions of contemporary Montenegrin art.
