MAXXI Exhibition Reclaims Yugoslav Socialist Heroes for Contemporary Resistance
From May 5 to September 12, MAXXI in Rome showcases 'Bigger than Myself: Heroic Voices from Ex-Yugoslavia,' featuring the works of 60 artists hailing from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, and Slovenia. Curator Zdenka Badovinac focuses on themes of solidarity and environmental health, challenging narratives of ethnic conflict. The exhibition spotlights the contributions of women, presenting installations such as Nada Prlja's 'What Would Happen If We Succeed?' (2001) and the video 'BODYSCAPES #1: Woman in battle' (2019) by Marta Popivoda and Ana Vujanović. Additionally, IRWIN's 'Was ist Kunst Bosnia and Herzegovina – Heroes 1941–1945' (2018) and Nika Autor's 'Newsreel 65' (2021) critique capitalist hypocrisy while advocating for antifascist heroes.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Bigger than Myself: Heroic Voices from Ex-Yugoslavia' at MAXXI, Rome
- Dates: 5 May – 12 September
- Features 60 artists from seven former Yugoslav republics
- Curated by Zdenka Badovinac
- Focuses on positive aspects of Yugoslav socialist ideology
- Includes works by Nada Prlja, Marta Popivoda, Ana Vujanović, IRWIN, and Nika Autor
- Highlights women artists and historical figures like partisan Sonja Vujanović
- References historical volunteer labor and antifascist heroes
Entities
Artists
- Nada Prlja
- Marta Popivoda
- Ana Vujanović
- Sonja Vujanović
- Nika Autor
- Asja Mandič
- IRWIN
- Zdenka Badovinac
- Tomaž Mastnak
- Benito Mussolini
- Margaret Thatcher
Institutions
- MAXXI
- ArtReview
- Federal Republic of Bosnia
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Zagreb
- Belgrade
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Kosovo
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia