From Nothing to One

 

Yesterday saw a radical break with standard lunch talk practise as Mladen Stilinovic not only deprived the audience of images of his work, but didn't go into his artistic curriculum at all, instead focussing on his pursuit of language, a central theme in his works. Even a small performance was in store as his students, scattered throughout the room, proclaimed some of the slogans he had coined throughout the years, taking many of them from people he heard talking on the street.

 

The most interesting part though must have been the presentation of his very own philosophy of laziness. "The artist in socialism has nothing to do but be poor and lazy, thus he can make art." he says, smiling impishly. For him, the balkan is still transitioning, so it will be interesting to see what happens to this laziness he says can only come from a socialist culture. A great discussion ensued as this concept seemed to really puzzle the mainly western audience. The way the writer of these lines understood it, it means working from the void. Because there are no distractions, one can fully be involved in art, transforming everything one comes across into it, completely unperturbed by the rest of the world. Asked if he is still lazy, the artist replies that "it gets harder all the time, so I try harder, as well." It remains to be seen if he can pass his concept on to his students. Judging by their enthusiasm, he's on the best way there. mp