The second edition of "Montenegro Today" has been opened: Contemporary art in four spaces and through four thematic units

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro opened the second edition of the large research and exhibition project "Montenegro Today" tonight, from 19 to 22 p.m., which presented 94 artists in four exhibition spaces: the Petrović Castle, the Perjanički Dom, the MSUCG Gallery and the ULUCG Art Pavilion.

This year's edition of the project is being implemented on the occasion of marking 20 years since the restoration of Montenegro's independence and represents a continuation of the multi-year research program of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro, aimed at mapping, documenting and presenting the contemporary Montenegrin art scene.

Unlike the classic ceremonial opening, this year's concept allowed the audience to tour all four exhibition spaces from 19 p.m., while the curators were present in their exhibition units, presenting the exhibition concepts, artworks, and thematic frameworks of this year's edition of the project through direct conversation with visitors.

Launched in 2023, the project "Montenegro Today" is one of the key research and exhibition programs of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro. Through curatorial research, thematic exhibitions, publications and educational programs, it continuously monitors contemporary artistic production, encompassing artists working in Montenegro, as well as authors of Montenegrin origin who create and live outside its borders. At the same time, the project is developing as a platform for documenting the contemporary art scene and its promotion in a regional and international context.

Project coordinator Masha Vlaović and museum advisor Marina Celebic They emphasized that "Montenegro Today" is developing as a long-term platform for research and presentation of contemporary Montenegrin art.

"The 'Montenegro' program is now developing as a multi-year project, and the 2026 edition represents a continuation of the research and exhibition process begun in previous phases. Continuing the practice established during 2024 and 2025, the project this year confirms the Museum's commitment to providing a comprehensive insight into the contemporary Montenegrin art scene through a thematic and curatorial approach. Although the project is still faced with limited spatial capacities, the concept of its multi-year duration allows for a gradual and careful presentation of artists and their poetics. The uniqueness of this year's edition is reflected in the organization through four thematic units realized in four exhibition spaces, which allows the audience to experience movement through different artistic languages, poetics and contemporary interpretations of reality, creating a dynamic dialogue between space, artworks and the audience," state Vlaović and Čelebić.

This year's edition of the project is organized through four thematic units that offer different curatorial perspectives on contemporary Montenegrin art.

Exhibition "Identity", set in the Petrović Castle, addresses issues of individual, collective, cultural and social identity, especially in the context of marking two decades since the restoration of Montenegro's independence. Through various artistic poetics, it opens up space for reflection on the ways in which identity is shaped, questioned and transformed.

An exhibition was presented at the Perjanički Dom "Living Pictures", dedicated to engaged artistic practices that critically reflect on social relations, the body, media, and everyday life through contemporary media, interdisciplinary approaches, and innovative forms, affirming art as a space for dialogue and critical reflection.

The MSUCG Gallery hosted the exhibition "Dynamic points and invisible lines", which explores inner worlds, memories, intuition and imagination, connecting the artist's personal experiences with broader cultural and existential issues through symbolic and poetic visions of reality.

An exhibition has opened at the ULUCG Art Pavilion "Open Field / Artistic Practices and Ideas of Nature", which, through various artistic media, contemplates the relationship between man and nature, the ecological challenges of modern society, climate change and sustainability issues, inviting the audience to reflect on environmental responsibility.

As part of this thematic unit, the audience also attended a performance tonight. "Wolf on the Grass", performed by the artistic duo Azra and Vuk (Azra Mehonjic i Vuk PekovicThe performance was an integral part of the exhibition concept and further expanded the dialogue between contemporary art, space and audience.

The curatorial team of this year's project consists of; Kristina Senić and Natalija Đuranović, authors of the exhibition "Identity", Vuk Vuković and Teodora Nikčević, authors of the exhibition "Living Pictures", Nikolina Zuber i Biljana Keković, the author of the exhibition "Dynamic Points and Invisible Lines", as well as Maja Dedic, Anita Culafic i Natalija Vujošević, authors of the exhibition "Open Field / Artistic Practices and Ideas of Nature".

The project "Montenegro Today" continues to develop as a long-term platform for research, documentation and international promotion of contemporary Montenegrin art. Through exhibitions, publications, educational programs and international cooperation, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro confirms its commitment to present contemporary artistic production of Montenegro as a vital and relevant part of regional and European cultural flows.