Liberation from dark memories with interaction with the audience, video and sculpture of a raft on fire represent the unusual exhibition entitled ‘Entering Valhalla’ by Gojko Dutina, Bojan Dojkić and Filip Markovinović, which will be open in the Svilara Cultural Station from 4 to 7 August.

The exhibition ‘Entering Valhalla’ evokes a religious-magical practice well known to all cultures of the world, through artistic action, as well as an installation consisting of sculpture and video projection.

The authors implemented one segment of the exhibition by symbolically burning objects that burden us emotionally, and which were collected throughout the city last week, while in the next segment they will show a video documenting this event and a sculpture of a raft on fire, representing an archetypal transition from one world to the other.

The work on this multimedia exhibition by three artists took place in several phases, in which the first is purely perforated and is not part of the exhibition, but it is part of the whole process.

‘We used carts from the supermarket to collect items that represent an emotional burden. These items were eventually burned. The second segment was created by recording a video, which gives context and explains the sculpture itself, i.e. installation. It is part of the exhibition. And there is, of course, the installation itself, as the final outcome of the whole work’, explains Filip Markovinović, one of the authors.

Fire and burning are archetypal concepts and are present in almost all cultures. Mostly, the symbolism of burning is related to the transition from this to some other world. The difference is the reason why it is done. Here it is about getting rid of bad memories. But, something new can also be born from the ashes, Markovinović notes and adds:

‘People get rid of all sorts of things. From objects related to some traumas and unpleasant periods of life, to objects that symbolize missed opportunities. We recorded part of the answer in the video, and there is also a diary, i.e. inventory of items with a description of the trauma. Participants in the performance also had the opportunity not to declare themselves if the subject was related to something that was too intimate. The very decision to get rid of something that reminds you of a trauma is actually a decision to reject the trauma itself.’

The ‘Entering Valhalla’ is one of 22 projects that received funds in the Public Call to Novi Sad artists within the ‘Artists. Now!’ project. Filip Markovinović sees this a chance to start the art scene again:

The cultural policy of the city, and beyond, has been focused for too long on manifestations, and the consequences of not investing in artistic production are obvious. That is why I welcome this initiative and I hope that there will be more such invitations to artists. Because only by continuous investment in production and empowerment of the actors of the local scene the basis for a new art scene in the city can be created’, says Markovinović.

The opening of the exhibition with the installation and video projection will be held on 3 August at 7 p.m .and can be followed online on the Svilara Cultural Station Facebook page and Cultural Stations Facebook page.

The public will be able to visit the exhibition in the Svilara Cultural Station from 4 to 7 August, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., respecting the preventive measures taken due to the epidemiological situation.

Partner in the ‘Artists. Now!’ project is Mercator S.