41st MAY EXHIBITION – THE LIGHT from 20th June until 12th July, 2009

Museum of Yugoslav History , premises of the Museum “25. maj”

The May Exhibition is the oldest and the most eminent exhibition of the most prominent authors in all fields of applied art, design and architecture in Serbia (held for the first time in 1969).

The Light, being the topic of this year's exhibition, rounding off the cycle which has begun with the topic Acceleration (2007) followed by The Revelation (2008), was a strong challenge for artists of all epochs, and particularly for contemporary ones in the time when the visual has dominated in the culture. The works of applied artists are actually linked to the idea of enlightenment, catharsis, brave step forward towards the future. Considering the fact that today the limits between visual art and design have almost faded away, it is the light which, as a powerful stimulus and universal force, may give expressiveness, atmosphere, meaning and impetus both to artistic expression and utilitarian practical work.

The palette of relations and connections is huge when considering this topic: light – darkness, light – shape, light – color, light – shadow, light – symbol, light – spirituality, light – game, light – cult, light – matter, light – universe, light – metamorphosis, light – natural, light – artificial, light – eternity.

In the gallery of artistic sensibilities we are not presented only with the answers to the given subject, but we also witness a specific experiment: in how many possible ways the light is present in our consciousness.

In some works the light is a main topic, in others it is only an addition to the work realized by using other initial ideas: materials, concepts, combinations, whiteness, mirror reflections, forms which capture the density of surrounding light, shape which is decomposed, op-artistic play of shapes, by golden and red color, expression, gesture, intervention on own body, statement, pure visual quality; gently, passionately, expressively, delicately, impressively, mysteriously, all these are ways in which artists have shown the changes of light which is illuminating us with plethora of meanings, feelings, messages.

The question arises whether, without specified topic, title on a poster or catalogue, an uninformed observer would be able to recognize the common thread which connects these works? Whether the light, as an eminence of visual creativity, has not actually been recognized and treated sufficiently enough as a separate topic of this exhibition?

The triptych, with which this exhibition ends, in many ways shows that both the ordered and the free is immanent for the applied art, as well as that authors easily and creatively find their ways in personal interpretation of Demiurge, communicating with creators within themselves.

(from the introductory text by Dijana Milašinović Marić)

Supporting exhibitions with the central manifestation:

•  Slobodan Manojlović, Professor, Designer, Solo Exhibition

Grand Prix of the 40th May Exhibition – THE LIGHT

•  Light Structuring

Author's exhibition by Mirjana Vajdić Bajić, Art Historian, comprising works of four women artists

•  Growing up - Balancing Energy

Interactive performance It's nice to be a grownup person

Vesna Nikolić and the association “Društvo naravno življenje”, Ljubljana

28th June. 2009 at 19.00h

SUPPORTING EXHIBITIONS in other galleries

•  Light and shadows of metropolis ( Vienna , Paris , Belgrade ), photos and audio presentation by Aleksandar Radoš, Artistic Photographer

Author's Exhibition by Ivona Rajačić Barandovski

Gallery SULUJ , 1– 18th July, 2009

  •  Halo , sublimed spiritual space

Author's Exhibition by Leposava Lepa Milošević Sibinović

Gallery FENIKS 21–28 th July, 2009

At this year's exhibition, 185 artists participated with 242 works.

According to rough statistics, since the first May Exhibition until today, over 3,500 artists participated who exhibited over 10,250 works, while the exhibition was visited by more than 70,000 people.

These impressive figures speak not only about tradition but also about vitality, continuity and ability of transformation in the spirit of the times.

Copyright © ULUPUDS 2007-2009.