Belgrade Biennial's 58th edition kicks off, entirely dedicated to dreamers

After several postponements due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 58th edition of theOktober Salon, better known as the Belgrade Biennial, one of the most important cultural events in the Balkan area, this year curated by two Italians, Ilaria Marotta and Andrea Baccin, and dedicated to the theme of “dreamers,” can finally start: in fact, the edition is entitled The Dreamers.

With the participation of 64 international artists, The Dreamers aims to investigate the space of dreams as a metaphorical space of freedom, capable of reinterpreting categories, rules and roles, and the most grounded certainties. Through 160 works, including 70 new productions, public interventions and site-specific works, the exhibition defines the world of dreams as a timeless and universal space, capable of transcending political and cultural barriers of language, religion, gender and expression.

The exhibition finds space in the former military building of the Belgrade City Museum, in the park surrounding the Museum of Yugoslavia with a Sculpture Garden, in the galleries of the Cultural Centre of Belgrade (a place deeply connected to the cultural life of the city), and at the Movie Theatre with a Film Program. Radio Belgrade Channel 2 is the platform for the radio drama directed by Than Hussein Clark, while Alex Da Corte’s work will be broadcast daily on RTS Channel 3 Culture and Art Program during the exhibition period.

“In a slippage of planes, times and spaces,” say curators Marotta and Baccin, "The Dreamers embodies the presence of different worlds that like dreams proceed by free associations and fragments, in a bounce of images and references between dreamed dimension, imagination, dreamlike projection, virtual sphere and existing reality."

Completing The Dreamers are a program of meetings and performances and site-specific interventions made in public places in the city, including a permanent installation by Cyprien Gaillard, which the artist donated to the city. This edition of the Belgrade Biennial is also enriched by The Dreamers Library section, an evolving archive of books selected by the artists, and a number of new publishing productions created especially for the occasion; in addition, to celebrate Belgrade’s “clubbing” scene, The Dreamers LP is produced in a limited edition in collaboration with the historic Drugstore Club, and with local musicians associated with its history.

Participating artists: Jean-Marie Appriou, 1986; Marija Avramovićand Sam Twidale, 1989/1988; Trisha Baga, 1985; Davide Balula, 1978; Will Benedict, 1978; Cecilia Bengolea, 1979; James Bridle, 1980; Dora Budor, 1984; Elaine Cameron-Weir, 1985; Ian Cheng, 1984; Claudia Comte, 1983; Sanja Ćopić, 1992; Matt Copson, 1992; Vuk Ćosić, 1966; Vuk Ćuk, 1987; Alex Da Corte, 1980; Jeremy Deller and Cecilia Bengolea, 1966/1979; Simon Denny, 1982; Nicolas Deshayes, 1983; DIS (Lauren Boyle, Solomon Chase, Marco Roso, David Toro), 2010; Aleksandra Domanović, 1981; David Douard, 1983; Cécile B. Evans, 1983; Cao Fei, 1978; Cyprien Gaillard, 1980; Nenad Gajić, 1982; Camille Henrot, 1978; David Horvitz, 1974; Klára Hosnedlová, 1990; Marguerite Humeau, 1986; Than Hussein Clark, 1981; Pierre Huyghe, 1962; Invernomuto (Simone Bertuzzi and Simone Trabucchi), 2003; Alex Israel, 1982; Melike Kara, 1985; Nadežda Kirćanski, 1992; Josh Kline, 1979; Oliver Laric, 1981; Mark Leckey, 1964; Hannah Levy, 1991; Hana Miletić, 1982; Ebecho Muslimova, 1984; Katja Novitskova, 1984; Precious Okoyomon, 1993; Wong Ping, 1984; Sonja Radaković, 1989; Jon Rafman, 1981; Anri Sala, 1974; Bojan Šarčević, 1974; Max Hooper Schneider, 1982; Augustas Serapinas, 1990; Igor Simić, 1988; Marianna Simnett, 1986; Emily Mae Smith, 1979; Colin Snapp with Mauro Hertig, 1982/1989; Daniel Steegmann Mangrané, 1977; Diamond Stingily, 1990; Jenna Sutela, 1983; Nora Turato, 1991; Nico Vascellari, 1976; Jordan Wolfson, 1980; Guan Xiao, 1983.

Pictured: Trisha Baga, The Voice (2017).

Belgrade Biennial's 58th edition kicks off, entirely dedicated to dreamers

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