Serbian comics through three centuries, a theatre adaptation of the famous comic heroine, the first comic on tapestry, the most significant conference on comics in the region – the last programme arch of the European Capital of Culture, Other? Europe, turns Serbian Athens into a unique Comic Book City, from 21 to 30 October. Novi Sad once again becomes the centre of the ninth art, which gathers the most significant comic book authors, and presenting its new forms mainly in the area of the Novi Sad District.
Visitors will be guided through the rich and dynamic history of Serbian comics, from the roots of visual storytelling in Serbian culture to its modern form by the ‘From Neven to Batman’ exhibition. A visual walk from epic poetry, folk tales, science fiction, horror, superheroes, melodrama, biographical novels, historical events and comedy to abstract, philosophical and experimental comics will be available to visitors in Radionica in the District from 21 October to 22 November. The opening of the exhibition is scheduled for 8:22 p.m.
Connecting comic book authors and weavers for the first time, a unique institution in this region that nurtures artistic tapestry, Atelier 61, will present itself to the public with the ‘Everyday Heroes’ exhibition. Artists who exclusively work in comics now have a unique opportunity to implement their comic ideas in a completely different medium. The exhibition itself includes nine works of larger dimensions, adapted to tapestry standards. Artists from Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia will be presented at the exhibition, which opens in Radionica in the District on 21 October at 7 p.m. and lasts until 21 November.
The comic heroine Cat Claw, written by Bane Kerac, moves from paper to the stage of the Youth Theatre under the direction of the famous Dutch director Michael Helmerhorst. The premiere of the theatre adaptation in digital scenography is scheduled for 22 October at 7:30 p.m. Restage will take place on 23 and 24 October. Tickets for the show can be purchased at the Youth Theatre box office.
The comics bring together the most important world, European and local lecturers
As part of the international project ‘Remix Comix – Comics for Heritage’, financed by Creative Europe, the most significant conference on the comics in the region ‘Comics, Heritage and Contemporary Art’ will held in the District from 28 to 30 October. The conference brings a series of lectures, workshops, seminars and talks about how comics can contribute to the inclusion of European heritage in different contexts – in public spaces, museums, on the streets and in the media. At the very opening of the conference, the well-known Austrian comic author Ulli Lust will address the audience. Presentations and workshops during the conference will be led by world-famous authors such as Akinori Oishi from Japan, Alekandar Zograf from Serbia, Janan Marasligil from Turkey, Boris Stanić from Serbia, Kuš! Collective from Latvia, scientific researchers from the Netherlands, Yasco Horsman and Mathijs Peters, art critic Canan Marasligil, editor of the platform for visual journalism ‘Drawing the Times’, Eva Hilhorst, as well as drama artists Karolina Spaić and Sebo Bakker, editor of a comic magazine Roel Daenen from Belgium and many others. Participation in the conference is free, with mandatory prior registration on www.remix-comix.com until 23 October.
The audience will, among other things, enjoy the installation in the public space ‘May the Children on the Street Play with Your Eyes!’, which will be exhibited in the District from 28 October to 28 November, as well as the Film Front festival, which takes place from 27 until 30 October and affirms the short author’s film and provides support to the new generation of filmmakers. As part of the festival, the first Zombie Walk in Novi Sad will be held, during which the participants will be led by the master of special film effects, Miroslav Lakobrija. For the younger audience, in the Liman Cultural Station on 22 and 23 October, the children’s opera ‘Baš Čelik’, a musical and stage work based on the famous fairy tale, will be performed, and in addition, a traditional comic book fair will be held in the Student Cultural Centre of Novi Sad. The Comic Book City also brings music programme with current alternative bands from Serbia and the region to the Novi Sad District, so we are expecting performances by Straight Mickey and the Boyz, Činčila, Lufthanza, Consecration and many others.
The Other? Europe programme arch presents the grand finale of the European Capital of Culture, and from 7 October to 27 November, with numerous programmes, it raises issues of dominant values in European culture and art and leads to the discovery of different, alternative, marginalized, minority and rebellious expressions.
Photo: Vladimir Veličković, Lea Bodor, Promo
