The period of the last decade of the 20th century was marked by numerous turning historical moments on a global level: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRJ), the beginning of wars and a number of others.
At the same time, Montenegrin heir to the throne, Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš, architect, activist, lover and admirer of art, decides to launch an event that will position Montenegro and the Prijstonika Cetinje at the center of world cultural and artistic events. It was then that an extremely important cultural manifestation was created, both for Cetinje and for Montenegro - the Cetinje Biennale.
Tonight, in Podgorica, in the Petrović Castle on Kruševac, the first in a series of exhibitions "Archive of the Cetinje Biennale" was opened, which evokes all five editions of this manifestation in which, from 1991 to 2005, more than 2.000 artists and cultural workers from the countries participated Around the world.
Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš greeted those present at the opening of the exhibition.
"Welcome to the house where my father and Prince Mihailo were born and where today the Contemporary Art Center and the offices of our Foundation are located. "We couldn't have found a better place to present the project proposed to the Foundation by the Institute of Contemporary Art from Cetinje with collaborators," he said at the beginning.
He pointed out that he was touched when the artists Irena Lagator Pejović and Natalija Vujošević proposed the cooperation of the Institute for Contemporary Art of Montenegro (ISU) and the Petrović Njegoš Foundation on this project. He also told "Vijesta" that he was disappointed due to the closure of the Biennale, which for him was and remains something valuable, which is now, in a different way, coming back to life.
"In fact, since 'Reconstruction', the last Biennale in 2002, which we ran together with a small and brave team that has followed me since 1991, I had repressed the memory of that beautiful adventure inspired by the intersection of two important events from the end of 1989. year: the funeral of King Nikola in Cetinje and the fall of the Berlin Wall. I also wanted to forget my disappointment with its painful end (the manifestation of the Cetinje Biennale), I must say, with a feeling of abandonment," said Prince Nikola at the opening.
The exhibition opened on the second floor of the Petrović Castle was designed as an active interdisciplinary process open to the participation of researchers from different fields, and in order to initiate an understanding of the complex context in which the Cetinje Biennale took place, said Natalija Vujošević, the founder and director of the ISU, who, together with the Petrović Njegoš Foundation, implements the project "Archive of Cetinje Biennials".
Those present were greeted by Lagator Pejović, who pointed out the importance of the Cetinje Biennale, which, she pointed out, quickly grew into an internationally recognized exhibition of contemporary art.
"The historical moment in which the idea of the Cetinje Biennale was conceived and realized (1989-1991), as well as the period of its duration (1991-2005), correspond to socio-political changes that were reflected in the further development of Montenegrin society," she said. she, and Vujošević continued:
"These changes were treated through the programmatic and thematic conception of all individual editions of the Biennale, introducing the practices of contemporary art, engagement and participation to the small Montenegrin scene, which was far behind the region. The Biennale made it possible for artistic production to emerge from a strictly institutional and local framework, as well as the internationalization of the scene with the participation of numerous relevant world artists and curators", Vujošević pointed out, and thus enabled a strong turnaround of the local scene.
"After an exceptional example of the emancipatory influence that the biennale had on the local community as well as on the modernization of the Montenegrin art scene, this period is pushed into oblivion due to the national-neoliberal upheaval of Montenegrin culture from 2006 until today," she added.
The closure of the world-class event perhaps best illustrates Montenegro's (then) attitude towards art... In addition, Lagator Pejović reminds, in the fifteen-year period since the last biennial, documents and information about biennials were not available to the public.
"Professional records, documentation and adequate implementation in art education and analysis of the period of Montenegrin history and culture have not been made. The consequence of the lack of adequate archiving and processing of documentation about the biennial and the entire context arising from its work, gradually leads to the dissipation and disappearance of data, memories and knowledge about this important document from the recent history of Montenegrin culture and art", said Lagator Pejović.
The organizers of the project see the Montenegrin biennial, she said, as a foundation for constructing an internationally relevant physical and digital space, an archival model necessary for the preservation, analysis and understanding of Montenegrin contemporary visual art, as well as understanding the local and wider cultural and social reality through the language of contemporary art.
Prince Nikola also said that he is grateful to two artists, Irena Lagator Pejović and Natalija Vujošević, "for opening his eyes to the importance that the Biennale represents for the international art scene, as well as the cultural heritage of Montenegro." He also told "Vijesta" that he hopes and believes that the project will be the foundation for new development, as well as for Montenegrin art and artists in general.
Vujošević announced that with this introductory exhibition they are establishing a base for the activation of an international and interdisciplinary project "as a summation of educational, research and artistic processes", and the next exhibition activity "Archive in Situ" is planned for the summer of 2022, in Cetinje.
Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš thanked the Montenegrin and European institutions that followed the Biennale from the very beginning, the artists and curators who were the essence of the event, the Biennale team and all the volunteers of the city of Cetinje, but above all the general secretary of the Biennale, Gordana Stevović, who, as pointed out, played a key role in this project and without which the Biennale would remain just a dream.
"I invite you to explore these documents that indicate the importance that the Biennale had in its time, as well as the possibilities it offers today. In the hope that you will be with us and support us in our future projects, I wish you a pleasant visit", said Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš.
Bonus video:
