Women Artists from Former Yugoslavia Challenge Western Feminist Monoculture Through Critical Self-Representation

In her 2006 study, Jovana Stokic examines the critical practices of women artists from the former Yugoslavia, which have emerged since the 1970s to confront both patriarchal traditions in the Balkans and Western feminist ideologies. Notable figures include Marina Abramović, Sanja Iveković, Milica Tomić, Tanja Ostojić, and Jelena Tomasević. In 1975, Abramović performed "Thomas' Lips," where she carved a communist star into her abdomen. Iveković's "Double Life," also from 1975, contrasted ads with personal images to highlight societal beauty norms. Tomić's 1998 video "I am Milica Tomić" challenged stereotypes during Serbia's nationalist era. Ostojić's 2002 piece critiqued Serbia's ties to Europe, while Tomasević's 2003 photograph addressed consumerism. Their work engages with themes of national identity, post-socialist change, and collective memory resistance.