I am an anti-fascist, so it is logical that the topics I illustrate are related to what I believe in - briefly and clearly explains Zoran Kardula (Cardula) in an interview for "Vijesti".
Known for his authentic expression, engaged approach, with a clear goal and mission, the renowned graphic designer and illustrator from North Macedonia deals with important, often neglected topics with his works, and at the same time strengthens the culture of memory, Yugoslav heritage and anti-fascist values. Thus, on the occasion of July 13, the Day of Statehood and the Day of the Uprising against Fascism in 1941, he made an illustration in Montenegro, and in an interview with "Vijesti" he says that it is important to remind the younger generation of important dates and values that must not be forgotten, although often they are...
"Anti-fascism is the foundation of modern Montenegro, and it is also a path that every modern state should nurture," he says.
Kardula presented himself to the Montenegrin public for the first time with the exhibition "Past for the Future" organized by the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) in mid-May, as part of the project marking the 80th anniversary of the battles on the Neretva and Sutjeska, as well as the second session of the AVNOJ.
The exhibition consists of two parts: one is the folk heroines from the series, which consists of 91 heroines, all done in pop art, and the second part is the magnificent monuments to the People's Liberation Struggle, which he points out are still captivating with their beauty after so many years with their timeless appearance.
In an interview for "Vijesti", he talks more about Yugoslavia, its heritage, today's societies...
"While throughout the world the Yugoslav project of self-governing socialism with its numerous cultural phenomena is today studied as an important part of civilizational heritage, in our country it is tried to be denied and presented as something evil that should not be repeated." We have to understand that without accepting that Yugoslav heritage and using all those positive aspects from that period, we cannot move forward and integrate into Europe", says Kardula and adds that Yugoslavia looks like a utopia, compared to what we have today...
In an interview with "Vijesti", Kardula also reveals that his illustrations will soon be on display as part of the International Festival of Alternative Theater Coryfej in Kolašin, in cooperation with CDT.
In addition, he also illustrated Luka Rakojević's publication dedicated to Yugoslav comics, with an emphasis on partisan comics, which is available on CDT's social networks.
He finds inspiration in everything, from Yugoslavia, today's "countries of the region", strong and brave heroes, fighters for life, freedom, equality, in different periods, to our everyday life where heroes are quiet, perhaps unobtrusive, but important and present. So it is inevitable to mention that he also illustrated the words of his daughter who has autism and published the book "Guš i Bac" which was then translated into 19 languages and raised important questions about the life of people with autism, and recently he also illustrated a girl from Novi Sad, Nina , who by selling donuts set out on a mission to collect money for her father's treatment...
"Art must fight and once again become avant-garde in the change for a better world", he says and continues to talk about everything for "Vijesti".
After your work was premiered in Montenegro, now there is a new publication "Drawings and Struggles". What are the initial impressions, and what does "Whirls and Struggles" bring?
After many years, i.e. 41 years, I came to Podgorica again, the occasion was my exhibition "Past for Future" organized by CDT. It was a digital exhibition in honor of 80 years of the great battles on the Neretva, Sutjeska and the Second Session of AVNOJ. The atmosphere at the exhibition was the kind that every artist wants to experience, wonderful people with whom I share the same values for a better world.
On the same occasion, also in cooperation with CDT, I designed Luka Rakojević's publication dedicated to Yugoslav comics, especially partisan comics. It is already available on their website cdtmn.org. I belong to a generation that grew up with comics, so it was a special pleasure for me to work on this publication that studies the development of partisan comics in detail.
In Montenegro, July 13 is celebrated as the Day of Statehood and the day of the uprising against fascism in 1941. How important is it to remember such events, to preserve the anti-fascist heritage and values for which people gave their lives? How can the "Past for the Future" be applied and interpreted in this context?
These are dates that must never be forgotten. Anti-fascism is the foundation of modern Montenegro, it is the path that every modern state should nurture. That is why it is very important to remind the young generation of those values, which, unfortunately, are often forgotten. "The past for the future" is the title of the proclamation by which the CDT once again calls for action - this time for the action of commemorating the glorious past from which we draw inspiration for the struggles we lead today, as well as for the struggles we leave as a legacy to those who come after us.
Among your works, there are many that are thematically related to Montenegro, from NOB monuments from the Yugoslav era to heroines who fought for freedom. Even though you are not from Montenegro, you spread knowledge about the past, achievements and exploits of individuals, which is also the case with other countries in the region... Why?
I was born in Yugoslavia, so Montenegro was still part of my homeland. Basically, a hero is a hero, and this question somehow reminds me of the statement of our world boxing champion Mata Parlov who said: "How can I be a nationalist if I am a world champion?" The same applies to heroes, they would be who they are regardless of whether they were born in Macedonia or any other country in the world. Their heroism is the legacy of all progressive forces in the world. Montenegro should be proud of its heroes who fought for a better world, a world equal for all, and their heroism must not be forgotten. In this context, there are also illustrations of a large number of heroes from the entire region.
Is there something or someone that particularly enchanted you during your work, inspired you during your research and in what way? Also, do and how inspiration and motives change depending on the circumstances in society or your personal mood?
While making illustrations, I always try to learn as much as possible about the characters, events, and again and again I discover some details that delight and inspire me. While illustrating NOB monuments (especially those made in a specific brutalist style characteristic of Yugoslavia), I always wondered if such a design would still pass today? In addition, I was delighted with the fact that such a style passed on an anonymous ad and that it was achieved. Even as they were made, I don't think they could be built in this time we live in. That timeless look still captivates with its beauty even after so many years.
It is obvious that you draw your inspiration to a large extent from the Yugoslav period, definitely anti-fascist heritage, but also female strength and power... Why are the themes of NOB and anti-fascism, and in a way, feminism present in your works?
I'm anti-fascist, so it makes sense that the subject I'm illustrating is related to what I believe in. Also, we live in a time when the question of gender equality, the position of women in society is being raised again, and in response to such dark scenarios I illustrate the characters of women who fight for equality all their lives. This is how illustrations of heroines from Yugoslavia appeared in the pop-art style, in order to be acceptable to the younger generations and so that information about these folk heroines of Yugoslavia could reach them. There are also women participating in the Spanish Civil War, women from the Bauhaus, women fighting for their rights around the world. What would my friends from the CDT say: "We are obliged to carry that fire on, to defend the rights and values acquired in the national liberation struggle, and to use their struggle as inspiration for some new struggles." That's why we invite you to light a new flame together every day, the flame of hope - against the darkness, against the force!".
How would you describe the importance of Yugoslav culture and is it necessary, and then challenging, to find a balance between nostalgia, a critical look at the past, pride in the past and the like?
More than necessary, especially in this period, is to get the best out of Yugoslavia. This does not mean nostalgia and the desire for Yugoslavia to return to the way it once was. The political elites that emerged in the multi-party system chose revisionism as the main characteristic and tried to hide the true view of what Yugoslavia meant in a cultural sense. As time passes, more and more we return to the missed opportunity in these areas to build a society worthy of human beings, and Yugoslavia looks more and more like a utopia compared to what we have today. All those supporters of fascism who are increasingly present in these areas are trying at any cost to devalue the cultural heritage of Yugoslavia.
How would you describe the importance of the Yugoslav community and cultural heritage today? Is it present in society, even in art, and does it have its own future?
While throughout the world the Yugoslav project of self-governing socialism with its numerous cultural phenomena is today studied as an important part of civilizational heritage, in our country it is tried to be denied and presented as something evil that should not be repeated. We must understand that without accepting that Yugoslav heritage and making use of all those positive aspects from that period, we cannot move forward and integrate into Europe. Let me mention the Concrete Utopia exhibition at MOMA in New York, where the whole world (was) delighted with our socialist heritage, and we allowed it to be destroyed and denied.
How important is the maintenance of that common cultural space, and in that context, how do you evaluate the interaction between societies in the countries of the former Yugoslavia? On the other hand, all countries aspire to the European Union, how achievable is it and how do you see the perspectives of the European Union?
As I mentioned, it is more than necessary to draw on all those positive aspects of our Yugoslav heritage, and not to deny and negate it at all costs and portray it as something bad that must not be repeated, that's the only way we can enter the European Union. My personal view is that our future lies in that community, in a community where we will be able to exercise our freedoms, which are more and more endangered every day, much more easily.
What do you think about the role of art in dealing with the past, but also in building reconciliation and promoting dialogue, whether in the area of the former Yugoslavia or in the world in general? Can art deal with the pitfalls of politics?
Art has always been the initiator of change, always on the right side, but unfortunately, in recent decades both in our country and in the world... The policies that appear in these areas are increasingly using art for their goals (these are the elites who appeared after the breakup of Yugoslavia and which use art to revise history and as a powerful weapon in that idea). This is not the case only here, in the countries created after the breakup of Yugoslavia, but also on a global level. Art must fight back and once again become the vanguard in order to change towards a better world.
How do you see the role of art in modern society, which is mostly a society of technology, information and haste? What does engaged art mean to you, is it necessarily connected to politics and current problems of a certain scene?
Art has rapidly transformed in step with technology that dominates more and more, and all this has brought some novelties in art, new artists who are changing the perception of what art is and what its role is in society. There are more and more engaged artists (including myself in that category) who dedicate their art to some change in the world. Of course, politics is a part of our everyday life and it is normal for it to be present in art as well... It was also before, not only in our time, for example Picasso's creativity and his work "Guernica" is his depiction of the atrocities of the fascists under Franco in Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. It is the same today, only now in this era of globalization and the Internet, we can get information much more easily, which we try to present through some illustrations and to show our position on different topics and situations.
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words from the language of his daughter who is on the autism spectrum, Kardula illustrated and published in a book on which he worked with 33 other artists from North Macedonia. The entire circulation of the first edition was sold out in one day, and the proceeds go to help children with autism
Are you working on anything right now?
I work on new projects every day, I try to illustrate something new and usually that's how I come up with an idea for a series or similar. Also, on this occasion, I would like to invite your readers to visit the exhibition that I will have in Kolašin as part of the Coryfej Theater, the festival of alternative theater in Kolašin. There I will present myself with part of the "Heroes" series in a fashion editorial setting that I already had the opportunity to show in Sarajevo, and everything was organized by my friends and colleagues from CDT.
Nina is one of the heroines of this time
Touched by the recent gesture of young Nina - "the girl with the doughnuts", you also made her portrait and presented it to her. How much do such gestures, our own or those around us, encourage us to be better people ourselves and learn about life?
From the very first post on Facebook where I saw Nina standing next to a table with a few donuts and the text that she was selling them to help with her dad's treatment, I was overcome with sadness and sincere respect for that child who, at the age of 11, is trying to help her to Father. It is obvious that it caused the same reactions among her fellow citizens, because they all united to help her. Her sincere desire to help her dad collect money for treatment and to contribute to it herself was a sign that little Nina had awakened humanity in people. I usually illustrate situations or characters, heroes and heroines, so Nina is one of the heroines of this time and it was inevitable that I should also illustrate her. I found her photo on the internet, which I later found out was taken by Aleksandar Jovanović, and I sat down to make a poster, to thank her for her courage and the fight she is leading to provide funds for her father's treatment. And it all went viral, which is proof that we can always awaken empathy and help each other with little effort. It doesn't matter who is from where and who is of which nationality or religion, it is important to be human and to respect each other. Life is too short to spend it in malice, insults, divisions based on religion, nation, ethnicity and the like... We should make an effort to create a better world for us and our children. Let's bring smiles back to people! We must fight and be loud against injustice, fight for equality and acceptance of diversity, we must not allow people to be treated the way they are treated. States and authorities must take responsibility for their citizens.
A family in the fight for acceptance of diversity and children with autism
You do not hide the influence of your private life on your creativity. How important is conversation, communication, overcoming previously set boundaries and breaking taboos for the sake of awareness, but also mutual acceptance of things, people, phenomena?
I do not hide the influence of my private life on my creativity. I have a daughter who is on the autism spectrum, and her condition, as well as all the issues we have faced as a family, have made me a true fighter in raising awareness of acceptance of people with autism. The book "Gush and Bats" that I made together with 33 other designers and artists from North Macedonia also played a big role here. The book illustrates 47 of her words from her language, which have been translated into 19 languages...
As a child with autism, now a girl, she has her own language to speak, and that language is very interesting. It's a kind of language mix that sounds like a foreign language. Over the years, we managed to discover the meaning of those words, and that's how this book came into being, which was created to raise people's awareness of all that. The entire circulation of the first edition was sold out in one day, and all proceeds go to help children with autism and their therapy. It's not just me who is vocal, but my whole family is also vocal in accepting diversity.
When Yugoslavia fell apart and the giants went out of business, there was no work for electrical engineers
Given that you are an electrical engineer by profession, how did you become interested in graphics and art and what later encouraged and inspired you to continue your career in that direction? What is the connection between these spheres?
Yes, I have a degree in electrical engineering, but I have not worked as an electrical engineer. I graduated when Yugoslavia fell apart and somehow during that period all the big giants went out of business, there was no work for electrical engineers, especially for my profession, and somehow I had to choose another profession. In that period, the profession of graphic designer was more and more current, and that was somehow very close to my love for art and drawing... Well, that was crucial for me to work as a graphic designer for 28 years. I don't know if there is any connection between electrical engineering and graphic design, but I think that the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, which I still have a high opinion of and consider to be an excellent faculty, allowed me to easily adapt to another profession.
Bonus video:
