ExposeYourself

A series of acting exercises, debates, and artistic collaborations connects a group of students from the Faculty of Fine Arts and History of Art at the Faculty of Philosophy, both parts of the University of Belgrade. Organized by the student artists Ana Stojković and art historian Dunja Belić, they explore the possibilities of creating an atmosphere of honesty and unity in a sterile gallery space. By exposing themselves to visitors of the U10 Art Space, participants aim to provoke questions about the relationship between self-representation and honesty in the process of their own affirmation on the art scene.

Verbal and physical improvisation introduces participants to a situation in which they must react, thereby breaking the fear of expressing opinions that young artists and professionals feel when facing the scene. With this approach, there are no stupid questions, and the challenge of giving answers is respected. The rules of improvisation, primarily the mandatory speed and accepting the offer, neutralize inhibitions. The focus of this mutual exchange is on the psychological effects of the gallery space on the voices of young, unaffirmed professionals. Why do we hesitate to ask questions in the gallery? What makes it so difficult to openly and critically discuss our own work and the work of our colleagues? Drawing from previous experience, both academic and curatorial-exhibitory, students develop potential situations among the stakeholders on the scene (exhibitors, professors, gallery owners…). This role-playing game tends towards absurdity and the trivialization of established norms. The goal is to achieve a critical distance from established methods of developing, presenting, and interpreting artistic work.

Having broken the rigidity of the newly formed group, the second half of the program directs emerging potential for divergent thinking towards developing solutions for new artistic and curatorial works. As a means to crystallize them, debate exercises require participants to provide precise arguments about the scene and their creative decisions. After overcoming psychological barriers to public speaking, the participants need to have a solid logical basis. The goal of these exercises is successful discussion of their own work, as well as commenting on the work of others. In addition to being a dynamic approach to developing arguments, debate provides confidence in defending one’s views. Furthermore, “Expose Yourself” explores the possibility of using debate thinking in creating new artistic and exhibition content.

In the culmination of the program, the goal is to create proposals for new forms and concepts of artistic collaboration, which will, through their honesty, criticality, and presence, expose the generation of young artists and art historians, as well as established actors on the scene they share.