Belgrade Exhibition Examines the 1990s in Former Yugoslavia Through Memory and Artifacts

A permanent exhibition titled 'The Labyrinth of the Nineties' has opened at the M90 Foundation in Belgrade, curated by Igor Štiks, Dubravka Stojanović, and Dejan Ubović. The exhibition critically explores the turbulent decade of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia, addressing its complex legacy through sociological, historical, and economic lenses. It features archival materials, photographs, objects, and installations that navigate themes ranging from trauma and war to everyday life, humor, and resistance. The show includes segments such as Symbols, Deception, Night, Dissent, and Heroes, highlighting both state propaganda and acts of individual courage. Notable elements include media displays showing propaganda's role, a recreated crime scene referencing journalist Slavko Ćuruvija's murder, and immersive installations like a darkened corridor evoking the Sarajevo siege. The exhibition also connects to contemporary student protests in Serbia, drawing parallels with 1990s activism. It aims to foster dialogue about contested histories without imposing an authoritative narrative, presenting the decade as both past and persistently influential. The display incorporates artifacts from Yugoslav industry, graffiti replicating period messages, and multimedia components to create an engaging, fragmentary experience. The exhibition previously appeared in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Belgrade in a pilot version in 2023.