BEGINNING AFTER THE END: Visual Culture of Disquiet

To Begin, Once Again

One cannot speak of the beginning and the end without engaging in a deep debate about the context and the network of relations. If the end is at the beginning, then we really have nothing else to do but continue. The beginning of the 20th century was marked by a series of dramatic events and turning points in political and technological, but also in artistic terms, making their inevitable interdependence obvious. Instead of serving the ruling elites, the modern concept of the artist opened up space for individual expression outside the control of the metanarrative of power.

Visual culture in the expanded field is today inevitably considered in the context of the emergence of photomontage and the mass distribution of printed media – its use in a clearly and precisely defined political commentary, most often understood as visual (non)artistic interventions.

Through several segments that focus on different thematic units and periods, it aims to actualize some of the debates about the power and function of the image and the role of visual culture. The specific processes of control of visual content and their interpretation are explored, and especially the ways in which creative processes of image-making can be critically engaged in the direction of regenerating the social sphere and protecting the common public good in specific complex historical and political moments.

The exhibition features works by a large number of artists such as John Heartfield and his contemporaries Josep Renau, Manuel Monleon, Boris Klinch, but also the next generation represented by Hector Cattolica, Klaus Staeck, Peter Kennard, Claude Baillargeon… The exhibition also includes works from the collection of the MoCA-Skopje, which have not been exhibited in the context of their specific authentic reaction to the socio-political situation, such as those by Joan Rabascall, Kwak Duck-Jun, Lino Fiocchi, Petar Lubarda, and others. In addition to them, works by important contemporary artists such as Armando Lulaj, OPA Group, Igor Tоshevski, Gjorgje Jovanоvik, Filip Jovanovski, Nemanja Cvijanovic, Tomato Košir, The Yes Men…

* Selection from the collection of curator Vladimir Janchevski, which includes: books, posters, magazines, cards, photographs, graphics and other publications and printed materials.

Curator and text: Vladimir Janchevski

Production Coordinator: Ljupcho Iljovski (Conservator, MoCA)

Colaborators for MoCA Collection: Iva Dimovski, Blagoja Varoshanec

Exhibition Design: Igor Toshevski and Vladimir Janchevski

Coordination: Fanol Ademi

Technical Implementation: Jordan Arsovski (MoCA), Marjan Gjorgjiev (NG), Marko Petrushevski

Graphic Design: Iliana Petrushevska

The Project is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of North Macedonia