Nada Prlja's Red Discussion 2 at Venice Biennale Explores Counter-Hegemonic Politics
During the 58th Venice Biennale, on May 8, 2019, artist Nada Prlja showcased Red Discussion 2 at the Pavilion of North Macedonia. The event, moderated by Vlad Morariu, included participants Chantal Mouffe, Laura Raicovich, Maurizio Lazzarato, Charles Esche, and Artan Sadiku, who explored themes such as hegemony, rivoluzione, and care. Over two hours, the group engaged in debate while writing on a red pentagonal table, attended by Balkan curators and global artists. Prlja's larger exhibition, Subversion to Red, critiques nationalism and inequality, incorporating reimagined pieces by Olga Jevrić and Boris Nikoloski. The conversation also tackled colonialism, seeking to confront superficial political portrayals at the Biennale.
Key facts
- Red Discussion 2 occurred on May 8, 2019 at the Venice Biennale preview
- The event featured six participants: Vlad Morariu, Chantal Mouffe, Laura Raicovich, Maurizio Lazzarato, Charles Esche, and Artan Sadiku
- It was part of Nada Prlja's project Subversion to Red in the Pavilion of the Republic of North Macedonia
- The live art event used a red pentagonal table where participants wrote concepts during a two-hour debate
- Prlja's exhibition included Subtle Subversion, The Collection: She Does What She Wants, intervening in MoCA Skopje's collection
- The project references historical artists Olga Jevrić (1958 Venice Biennale) and Boris Nikoloski
- Discussions addressed hegemony, agonism, colonialism, and post-socialist transition
- The event aimed to challenge market-oriented representations of South-East Europe
Entities
Artists
- Nada Prlja
- Olga Jevrić
- Boris Nikoloski
- Ana Lazarevska
- Ana Maljanovska
- Mina
- Alberto Lupo
- Dave Beech
- Hannah Black
- Gail Day
- Mark Fisher
- Nina Power
- Ernesto Laclau
- Walter Benjamin
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- Pavilion of the Republic of North Macedonia
- Palazzo Rota Ivancich
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Skopje
- Non-Aligned Movement
- ARTMargins Online
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- London
- United Kingdom
- Skopje
- North Macedonia
- Balkans
- South-East Europe
- Ottoman Empire
- Austro-Hungarian Empire
- African continent