Montenegro Pavilion - Čovjek-Uomo-Umano

At the Biennale Arte 2017, Montenegro is represented for the fifth time since the restoration of its independence. In 2009, Montenegro was represented by Miodrag Dado Đurić (The Zorzi Elegies), in 2011 by Marina Abramović (The Fridge Factory and Clear Waters), in 2013 by Irena Lagator Pejović (Image Think) and in 2015 by Aleksandar Đuravčević.
This year, Montenegro is represented by the project of "Čovjek-Uomo-Human" by the artists Ivana Radovanović and Adin Rastoder, at the pavilion located atthe Palazzo Malipiero, next to the Palazzo Grassi.
The patron of Montenegro’s presentation of at the 57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Veneziais the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, its executive producer is the Contemporary Art Center of Montenegro, the pavilion’s Commissioner is Nenad Šoškić, while the curator is Žana Filipović, art historian.
The works of Ivana Radovanović and Adin Rastoder represent two independent artistic concepts with a shared theme – the theme of anthropology, and man – whichfully corresponds with this edition's theme "Viva Arte Viva", given that it is universally known that the source of art is human. This concept is an invitation, an appeal to change the world in which we live. Art is a symbol, a medium that connects peoples and cultures. Art is the actual triumph of the human spirit.
The two selected artists belong to the younger generation, and in addition to conveyinggreat creative and expressive potential, they are well versed in art theory, so that their vision, energy, and artistic forceare the key drivers of the project "Čovjek-Uomo-Human".
In their visual characteristics and artistic messages, the artistic projects of Ivana Radovanović and Adin Rastoder represent separate pieces, but at the same time they constitute an aesthetically choreographed and powerful whole. The two artistic concepts make for a union insofar as they express two different aspects of the human being. Their mutual contrasts in reality create a unique message that invites us to contemplate deeply on the meaning of human existence. Their project is, therefore, an appeal to change the world in which we live, and to return to all its essential values.
Rastoder’s sculpture is an imaginary figure that emerges from vital anthropological principles. Through his creative process, he arrives to unusual, abstract, novel solutions and responses. By a thorough exploration of sense, through research, he nurtures his personal creative language. He gives shape and models human figures in order to arrive to their most salient personality traits. He observes the human; carefully analyzes the details that constitute her character and thoughts; experiences and relives her most intimate being; imagines and fleshes them out; turns away from the visible and creates a new vision of the HUMAN. His figures all have the same shape, but what makes them different is their colors, which point to what is individual and what is collective in them. The optimistic worldview of the author is expressed through their vividly painted costumes. And, as a special value, it is important to emphasize strong reliefs and the expressiveness of his portraits, slightly facing upwards – a reference to the nature of gaze, and to a strong experience of beauty and light.
The work of Ivana Radovanović highlights absurdity and impermanence as the key dimensions of human life. Accordingly, she demonstrates a strongly modern sensibility marked by a destruction of personality and individuality. This spirit is, in fact, a collection and accumulation of feelings, images, fragments, which may be combined to form some new compound… a new spirit. Inspired by the poem "The Hollow Men" by T. S. Eliot, the artist deals with the human being seen essentially as a creator and a destroyer. Her figures represent defaced people or people without faces, without qualities, devoid of any meaning, indifferent and degraded in terms of their human dignity.

The opening of the Montenegrin Pavilion will be on March 12th 2017, at 19.00.

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