Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – besides revolution they brought in their fields of art, the thing that connects these three world famous names is Novi Sad, since their works will be exhibited within the ‘Fortress of Peace’ programme platform of the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’.
Citizens of Novi Sad will have a chance to see the works by Andy Warhol, the most famous artist of pop art, in the Foreign Art Collection of the City Museum of Novi Sad until 25 June, and professional exhibition guidance will be provided on 21 June at 7 p.m. Curator will be Uroš Đurić, Serbian multimedia artist and actor. Entrance is free. Warhol’s work will be presented with 48 works, that are exhibited in the Foreign Art Collection, including the most famous ‘Marilyn Diptych’, ‘Mao’, ‘Campbell’s Soup Can’, as well as the ‘Speed Skater’.
‘If you look at contemporary art and culture, I believe that Warhol is more popular than ever and that his words and works are far important nowadays, then they were in time when he lived’, said Vesna Iković, Director of the City Museum of Novi Sad, at the press-conference held in the Foreign Art Collection of the City Museum of Novi Sad.
The monument of peace at the Petrovaradin Fortress and works of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in Svilara
In addition to Warhol, the ‘Fortress of Peace’ brings works of two world famous names. The monument of peace ‘One Day…’, which was created by multimedia artist Yoko Ono, will be a unique present to Novi Sad and new cultural-tourist attraction. The monument will be symbolically set up at the Petrovaradin Fortress, in order to contribute to the promotion of Novi Sad at the international scene and affirmation of Petrovaradin Fortress as the fortress of peace. The project is implemented in cooperation with the EXIT Foundation, and co-financed by the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ and NIS company, on the occasion of 100 years of signing the Treaty of Versailles and ending of World War I.
The end of the ‘Fortress of Peace’ platform and beginning of July in Novi Sad will be in token of one of the most controversial artists of his time, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. More than 20 Lautrec’s works will be exhibited in the Svilara Cultural Station on 1 July.
Misunderstood in the beginning, Lautrec was one of the first artists that dealt with posters that made him famous, and the poster for Moulin Rouge captured special attention.
Nemanja Milenković, CEO of the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation stressed that this is one of indicators that, Novi Sad, unlike other European Capitals of Culture, works on the so-called invisible preparation by initiating platforms, in order to be prepared for 2021 – the title year.
‘The selection of these world famous artists in Novi Sad shouldn’t be surprising. Yoko Ono, as one of the most important peace activists, Warhol, who, after World War I, made revolution in pop art culture, which has turned out to be mainstream art today. It’s the same story with Toulouse-Lautrec, a man who presented very popular and subversive culture, which has also became mainstream. This is the question that should be discussed – is contemporary art something that will become mainstream for 50, 100 or 200 years?’ said Milenković.
Having in mind that the ‘Fortress of Peace’ was launched on 7 June, it has shown that it develops the best possible way, said Dalibor Rožić, member of the City Council in charge of culture, at the press-conference.
‘Yoko Ono, Warhol and Lautrec, the programmes within the NEO Fetival, as well as other events that are part of the ‘Fortress of Peace’ indicate that the platform has found its place’, stressed Rožić.
The ‘Fortress of Peace’ is the fourth programme platform of the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’ project that promotes Novi Sad as the symbol of peace, communion and tolerance. It comprises more than 20 events – concerts, exhibitions, film screenings and theatre plays, which send messages of peace.
You can find full programme on the following link and on social media of the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’ project.
