MASTERPIECES VII

The Masterpieces exhibition brings together master’s students from all departments of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade. Originating from a need to provide young artists with a space for collaboration, exchange, and collective reflection on artistic practice, over the years it has become an important platform for encounters, dialogue, and mutual support. Many of the young artists, stepping for the first time outside the academic framework into a professional context, are given the opportunity to present their work to the public and, through the collective process of preparing the exhibition, to reconsider the ways in which their artistic engagement communicates with the audience and with the community.

This year’s edition unfolds under circumstances that have been exceptionally difficult for everyone. The academic year was marked by student blockades and protests, sparked by the tragic event in Novi Sad that claimed sixteen lives. Classes were suspended, and the students’ daily lives were profoundly altered. For almost the entire school year, they were on the streets, fighting for justice, dignity, and a society that refuses to remain silent. During that period, regular attendance and institutional artistic work were almost impossible. Consequently, this year’s Masterpieces exhibition is being held later than usual, at a time when most participants have already completed their master’s studies, while the usual visits of the U10 collective to faculty classes did not take place.

Throughout the year, driven by their convictions and civic engagement, students suspended their lectures at the cost of their formal education, dedicated countless hours to activism, and endured insults, threats, arrests, and beatings. And yet, they managed to unite citizens, raise awareness, educate others, and rekindle a sense of freedom and hope. Many of us shared feelings of anger, sorrow, and helplessness, but also deep admiration for the courage and perseverance the students showed. Their struggle reminds us that art does not exist outside society but precisely within its most sensitive points – and that ethical and creative responsibility are inseparable.

The works presented in this edition confirm that art endures even when everything seems impossible. They express solidarity, collective persistence, and the need not to observe the world passively, but to take an active part in it. Despite difficult circumstances, it remains important to preserve the continuity of the Masterpieces project and the creative work of young artists. The exhibition continues to serve as a space for exchange, development, and the advancement of their practices that persevere despite everything, bearing witness to the resilience and artistic energy of a new generation.

For us at the U10 collective, this edition is not only a continuation of a long-standing initiative but also a testament to the strength of the artistic community and to a generation that has taught us the true meaning of solidarity.