Belgrade Topographics [2011–2021]

As one of the oldest settlements in Europe, Belgrade has had a very specific history of discontinuity. The traditional disregard for urban development and the architectural chaos of recent times have their bitter extension in systematic deterioration and the accompanying gentrification. If the massive development of Belgrade, starting in the second part of the 19th century, generally meant expansion of the city, the transitional building frenzy of the last decades is mainly focused on its reconstruction. This reconstruction generally does not mean upgrading and restoration, but rather the implementation of decisions guided by plain profit and political power.

Initiated as an exploration of architecture, the Belgrade Topographics project consists of a large number of photographs that represent the old and the new contemporary Belgrade. Though deeply rooted in the tradition of art, the project has an underlying utilitarian value, similar to Google’s Street View. The photographs are marked by street names and depict individual structures, squares, intersections, streets, and details such as shop windows and parts of buildings.

In opposition to the beautified postcards and sensational photo reportages about events, the motifs represented in the photos are neither attractive nor obvious. Only seemingly objective, these detailed images of Belgrade may be understood as a comment and criticism. Above all, they remain documents of a city whose stressful history and uncertain destiny are regularly reduced to change that has rarely had a positive architectural outcome.  [MV]

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Topografija Beograda [2011–2021]

Kao jedno od najstarijih naselja u Evropi, Beograd ima vrlo specifičnu istoriju diskontinuiteta. Tradicionalni urbanistički nemar i graditeljski haos u savremenom trenutku dobili su otužan nastavak kroz sistemsko propadanje i prateću džentrifikaciju. Ako se graditeljski razvoj Beograda, počev od druge polovine devetnaestog veka, svodio na širenje grada, promena tranzicionog Beograda poslednjih decenija uglavnom podrazumeva rekonstrukciju. Ova rekonstrukcija najčešće ne znači urbanističko i arhitektonsko unapređivanje, već implementaciju rešenja iza kojih stoji prosta logika profita i političke moći.

Započet kao istraživanje arhitekture, projekat Topografija Beograda sastoji se od velikog broja fotografija na kojima je predstavljen stari i novi savremeni Beograd. Iako je nastao u kontekstu umetničke prakse, projekat ima naglašenu utilitarnu vrednost, slično kao interfejs Google Street View. Na fotografijama označenim prema nazivima ulica predstavljene su pojedinačne građevine, trgovi, raskrsnice, ulice i detalji poput izloga i delova zgrada.

Suprotno ulepšanim razglednicama i dramatičnim foto-reportažama o događajima, ove fotografije predstavljaju motive koji nisu ni privlačni ni očigledni. Samo naizgled objektivni, ovi detaljni prikazi Beograda mogu se razumeti kao komentar i kritika, ali pre svega ostaju dokumenti o gradu čija se nemirna istorija i sudbina svode na promenu koja je retko imala pozitivan arhitektonski ishod.  [MV]