Jelena Micić (1986, Knjaževac) received her master's degree from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna (2020) in the Department of Textual Sculpture (mentor Hajmo Cobernig). He is completing his Master's degree in Philosophy (2012) and graduate studies at the Department of Scandinavian Languages and Literature (2010) at the University of Belgrade. She was awarded the Würdigungspreis der Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien for the best final theses (2020), the Ö1 Talentestipendium Bildende Kunst (2018) and the scholarship kültür gemma! (2018). Her works are in the Federal Collection of Austria (Artothek des Bundes), as well as in the collection of the City of Vienna. Founder of the informal group ARTIST *.
Selected exhibitions: Alles in Ordnung. Vienna Museum, MUSA Startgalerie. Vienna, I learned from the best. DKSG. Belgrade, Recycler: Plastic enters paradise. Shock Cooperative. Novi Sad, Insulation room. House of Youth. Belgrade (2021); MULTIPLE SINGULARITIES. xhibitE. Vienna, The birth of the Museums of Migration. The beautiful. Vienna, bleischwer. Factory shop. Vienna (2020); MOLERAJ. Temporary Parapet. Bratislava, kunstnah / kunstfern. Gallery IG Bildende Kunst. Vienna (2019); NO-YELLOW. Spotlight. Uzice, minus20degree: Art & Architecture Winter Biennale. Public space. Flachau (2018); BATTLEFIELDS. KCNS, Small Art Salon. Novi Sad, Tiefe Kirschen. Lisa Kandlhofer. Vienna, Different Worlds. Kino Šiška. Ljubljana (2017); ANECUMENA. House of Youth. Belgrade, Ohne Titel (Projektraum / Plattform). Austrian Sculpture Park. Graz (2016); FATHER. Inex. Belgrade (2015); FORMA.izam. SKC. Belgrade (2014).
I am interested in researching various cultural and socio-political aspects of color and combat systems. My artistic research practice includes fieldwork and collecting visual material. Using the method of everyday appropriation, my work often adopts selected patterns of human behavior and actions that indicate their presence.
Color catcher
The color catcher papers used to absorb the color and enable washing of clothes of different colors in the same washing machine are (mis)used to extract colour from a large set of household items, from textile, paper, to plants, drinks, and food. Jelena Micić is using the product as a photo emulsion, where the item is soaked/cooked in hot water in order to release pigment. Caught pigment samples are shown as an arranged and labeled household color palette. Artist’s special interest lies in the investigation of different cultural and socio-political aspects of color and color systems. Most of my artistic practice includes fieldwork and research-based collecting of visual information. Appropriating the everyday, my work often presupposes chosen patterns of human behaviour and acts accompanying their presence.
Interview
What is the language in common for the young people today?
Underrepresentation.
What does the process of making one of your pieces look like?
My process begins with observing, selecting and collecting materials, which I then incorporate into larger structures.
Which challenges have you faced while making art as you know it?
Premature classification into one of the expected categories, and then interpretation of works based on them.
Do you consider yourself an artist, and what does that word mean to you?
According to the classification of employment, I am an independent artist, which practically means that in addition to artistic work, I also deal with project management, curatorial work and editing publications.
What is your escape from reality? Do you even have a need to escape from something?
I have a need to return to reality, but reality is also a construction. I don't think art has the potential to significantly reconstruct "reality."
What does the word innovative mean to you?
Find new possibilities and interpretations having in mind the events in the field of interest.
Do you have a plan for the future? Where can your artistic practice take you?
To self-organized non-institutional activities where I achieve a balance between interests and existential security.
What made the biggest influence on you to become what you are today and do what you do now?
Perseverance.
How would you describe Serbian (Balkan or European-depends on where you live and work) contemporary cultural scene?
It is located in the diaspora.
In which way does your creative process shape you or changes you as a person, if it does at all?
I think it is an interdependent and mutual process.