Milica Janković

— born in 1990 in Cetinje, Montenegro. She is an interdisciplinary artist and cultural activist based in Italy. She is the founder of Atelje22 (non-profit organization) and a publishing house A221, through which she implemented projects in the field of art and new technologies. In 2021 she was selected as Changemaker for culture in EU (Todaysart Festival). Her work has been exhibited at solo and group exhibitions in EU, USA, China. Milica is a recipient of “Milčik” award2 (YVAA and TMU, NY,2022); 1st prize for installation – 15th Biennale of Miniatures, Serbia (2020); First award – 53rd Art Salon, Montenegro (2019) and 69th Premio G.B.Salvi, Italy (2019).

Since completing my formal education, the insatiable curiosity has driven me to explore diverse cultures and ways of living. Through extensive travel, I’ve come to recognize the profound importance of engaging with different languages, allowing me to immerse myself in the rich tapestry of global cultures while gaining a deeper understanding of my own heritage.

I was born in Cetinje, a place that could be more defined as a passage than a city, where I’ve been deeply influenced by the awe-inspiring mountains that envelop it. It was among these natural wonders that I first encountered Kant’s notion of the “sublime,” and came to appreciate the profound impact of space on the development of critical and creative thought.

The rugged terrain, characterized by snow-capped peaks and endless rains, serves as a constant reminder of the formative experiences of my childhood, experiences that continue to shape my artistic expression to this day.

As an interdisciplinary artist, my practice3 encompasses drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture, fueled by a profound interest in philosophy, literature, art cinema, and Western poetry. I view my work as an ongoing exploration, rooted in experimentation and extending across various artistic disciplines, often intersecting with emerging technologies4. Presently, my focus lies in studio-based research and the conception of site-specific installations5, all aimed at probing the concept of space and its dynamic interplay with the viewer.

I’m particularly intrigued by the sensory qualities inherent in the environments we inhabit, and the profound influence they exert on our perceptions. A central theme in my artistic inquiry revolves around the exploration of everyday life and its stratifications. This exploration finds expression through the creation of alternative spaces that transcend conventional notions of place and time. Whether manifested on a miniature scale6 or in monumental proportions, these installations invite the viewer to actively engage with their surroundings, fostering a dialogue with the ambient (artwork).

Ultimately, my work is driven by a desire to forge meaningful connections between the viewer and the artwork. This interaction, characterized by its inherent unpredictability, underscores the deeply intertwined nature of our perception and experience, highlighting the profound impact of it on our understanding of self and others.

1Link to Atelje 22 web page: www.atelie22.me

2Residency Unlimited (2023). Milica Jankovic winner of the 2022 Milcik Award. Link to the interview:
https://residencyunlimited.org/residencies/milica-jankovic/

3Link to the artists web page: https://jankovicmilica.weebly.com/

4Giagnacovo, F. (02 March 2024). Survive the Art Cube, Interview Milica Jankovic. Arshake. Link:
https://www.arshake.com/en/interview-milica-jankovic/

5Vamvouklis, N. (2024). Curator Nicolas Vamvouklis in conversation with the six international artists participating in the
“Beyond Boundaries” residency program at Fabbrica del Vapore in Milan. BJCEM. Link of the interview:
https://www.bjcem.org/beyond-boundaries/milica-jankovic/

6Tolve. A. (2019). Arcani della memoria quotidiana. Milica Jankovic a Macerata. Artribune. Link:
https://www.artribune.com/arti-visive/arte-contemporanea/2019/05/mostra-milica-jankovic-gaba-young-macerata/

7Image: Embodied Experience, interactive Neurofeedback light installation (EEG, PPG, Machine Learning); ongoing project created in collaboration with neuroscientist dr. Andre Desantis and software engineer Antonio Viesti; 2023 - in progress; video documentation: https://youtu.be/6XJvoEM2EQk. Courtesy of the artist.

8 Image: Embodied Experience, interactive Neurofeedback light installation (EEG, PPG, Machine Learning); ongoing project created in collaboration with neuroscientist dr. Andre Desantis and software engineer Antonio Viesti; 2023. Courtesy of the artist.

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Image: Take Me Back Home; site-specific AR (Augmented Reality) installation; dimensions of the object installation 9 x 6 x 0,3 m; public installation created in collaboration with software engineer Martynas Januškauskas; video documentation of the site-specific installation including AR : https://youtu.be/OoCX1yXNQk0; Re/Shaping the City festival, Cetinje, Montenegro 2021. Courtesy of the artist and Re/Shaping the City festival.

10Image: In the shadow of another we look for our own shadow, in the mirror of another our own mirror; large-scale wire sculpture installation with repetitive light movements ; variable dimension (head 2,20 x O180 x 170 cm - hand 260 x O80 cm); exhibition at Galerija Art, Podgorica, Montenegro. Courtesy of the artist and Galerija Art.


11Image:Inherited Memory, Inherited Memory, reversed video projection from a mirror folia to the opposite wall, dimensions of the video projection 2,2 x 1,6 m 
Awarded YVAA – Young Visual Artists Award “Milčik”, ISU Montenegro 2022. Courtesy of the artist.


12Image: Quarantine memory_Intro Family, video installation and photo documentation, dimensions of the video 1,4 x 3 m Dimensions of photo documentation 30x40 cm, exposed on transparent projection surface hanging freely in the space, presented at online solo exhibition, Turin, Italy, 2020. Courtesy of the artist.


13metaMONDI; Diorama in cardboard boxes with interior lighting system; miniature sculptures/objects, various dimensions, 2019; solo exhibition in gallery GABAYoung, Macerata,Italy, Courtesy of the artist and GABAYoung Macerata.


14Image:02.22, video installation, variable dimensions, part of “Living The E(art)h” digital project created in collaboration with Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, curated by Giulia Perugini, 2020, video and photo documentation: https://youtu.be/LrBxuQvZ_hE. Courtesy of the artist.

— rođena je 1990. na Cetinju, interdisciplinarna je umjetnica i aktivistkinja u kulturi s prebivalištem u Italiji. Osnivačica je Ateljea22 (neprofitna organizacija) i izdavačke kuće A22, kroz koje realizuje projekte na polju umjetnosti i novih tehnologija. Izbrana je kao Changemaker for culture in EU (Todaysart Festival) tokom 2021. Njen rad je izlagan na samostalnim i grupnim izložbama u Evropi, SAD-u i Kini. Milica je dobitnica “Milčik” nagrade (YVAA iTMU, NY,2022); prve nagrade za instalaciju – 15th Bijenale minijatura, Serbia (2020); Prva nagrada – 53. novembarskog likovnog salona, Crna Gora(2019) and 69. “Premio G.B.Salvi”, Italija (2019).

Od momenta završetka formalnog obrazovanja, neiscrpna radoznalost me je navela da istražujem različite kulture i načine življenja. Kroz duga putovanja, prepoznala sam temeljni značaj susreta s drugim jezicima, dozvoljavajući sebi da zaronim u bogatu tapiseriju globalnih kultura i istovremeno steknem dublje razumijevanje vlastitog naslijeđa.

Rođena sam u Cetinju, mjestu koje se radije nego grad, može definisati kao tranzitno mjesto, a čije su zadivljujuće planine koje ga obgrljuju ostavile na mene formativni uticaj. Negdje između ovih prirodnih čuda sam prvi put naišla na Kantov pojam “uzvišenog” i počela sam duboko da cijenim temeljni uticaj prostora na razvoj kritičke i kreativne misli.

Hrapav i kršovit krajolik, karakterističan po snježnim vrhovima i kišama koje ne staju, služio je kao vječni podsjetnik formativnih iskustva mog djetinjstva, iskustva koje do danas oblikuju moj umjetnički izraz.

Kao interdisciplinarna umjetnica, moja praksa obuhvata crtež, slikanje, grafiku, i skulpturu, koje hrani moje duboko interesovanje za izučavanje filozofije, književnosti, filma i Zapadne poezije. Svoj rad posmatram kao neprestano istraživanje, ukorijenjeno u eksperimentu, a protegnuto kroz različite umjetničke discipline, često na intersekciji s tehnologijama u povoju. Trenutno, moj fokus je podijeljen na istraživanje u ateljeu i na koncepciju site-specific instalacija, sve s namjerom da ispitivanja koncepta prostora i njegovih dinamičkih poigravanja s posmatračem.

Posebno sam intrigirana senzornim kvalitetima, inherentnim okruženjima koje nastanjujemo i temeljnim uticajem koji polažu na našu percepciju. Centralna tema mog umjetničkog istraživanja tiče se istraživanja svakodnevnog života i njegovih stratifikacija. Ovo istraživanje pronalazi izraz kroz stvaranje alternativnih prostora koji nadilaze konvencionalne pojmove mjesta i vremena. Bilo da je riječ o manifestaciji kroz minijaturu ili o monumentalnim proporcijama, ove instalacije pozivaju posmatrača da se aktivno pozabavi svojim okruženjem, time gajeći dijalog s ambijentalnim, odnosno s umjetničkim djelom. 

U konačnici, moj rad definiše želja za stvaranjem novih smislenih veza između posmatrača i umjetničkog djela. Ova interakcija, okarakterisana inherentnom nepredvidljivošću, podcrtava duboku premreženost prirode naše percepcije/čula i iskustva i posljedično baca svjetlo na uticaj ovih odnosa na naše shvatanje sebe i drugih.

1Link do vebsajta Ateljea 22: www.atelie22.me

2Residency Unlimited (2023). Milica Jankovic, dobitnica nagrade Milčik za 2022. godinu; link do intervjua:
https://residencyunlimited.org/residencies/milica-jankovic/

3Link do vebsajta umjetnice: https://jankovicmilica.weebly.com/

4Giagnacovo, F. (2. mart 2024.). Survive the Art Cube, Intervju sa Milicom Jankoviž. Arshake. Link:
https://www.arshake.com/en/interview-milica-jankovic/

5Vamvouklis, N. (2024). Kustos Nicolas Vamvouklis u razgovoru sa šest međunarodnih umjetnika, učesnika rezidencijalnog programa “Beyond Boundaries” u Fabbrica del Vapore in Milan. BJCEM. Link do intervjua:
https://www.bjcem.org/beyond-boundaries/milica-jankovic/

6Tolve. A. (2019). Arcani della memoria quotidiana. Milica Jankovic a Macerata. Artribune. Link:
https://www.artribune.com/arti-visive/arte-contemporanea/2019/05/mostra-milica-jankovic-gaba-young-macerata/

7Foto: Embodied Experience, interaktivna svjetlosna instalacija uspostavljena na mjerenju i obradi neurosignala (EEG, PPG, Machine Learning); projekat u trajanju kreiran u saradnji sa neuronaučnikom dr. Andre Desantis i softverskim inježnjerom Antonio Viesti; 2023 - nadalje; video dokumentacija: https://youtu.be/6XJvoEM2EQk. Ustupljeno ljubaznošću umjetnice i saradnika.

8 Foto: Embodied Experience, interaktivna svjetlosna instalacija uspostavljena na mjerenju i obradi neurosignala (EEG, PPG, Machine Learning); projekat u trajanju kreiran u saradnji sa neuronaučnikom dr. Andre Desantis i softverskim inježnjerom Antonio Viesti; 2023 - nadalje. Ustupljeno ljubaznošću umjetnice i saradnika.

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Foto: Take Me Back Home; site-specific AR (nadopunjena realnost) instalacija; dimenzije objekta instalacije 9 x 6 x 0,3 m; javna instalacija kreirana u saradnji sa softverskim inženjerom Martynasom Januškauskasom; video dokumentacija site-specific instalacije uključujući AR : https://youtu.be/OoCX1yXNQk0; Re/Shaping the City festival, Cetinje, Crna Gora, 2021. Ustupljeno ljubaznošću umjetnice, saradnika i festivala Re/Shaping City.

10Foto: In the shadow of another we look for our own shadow, in the mirror of another our own mirror; instalacija sačinjena od skuplture od žice i repetitivnih pokreta svjetla; variabilne dimenzije (glava 2,20 x O180 x 170 cm - šaka 260 x O80 cm); izložba u Galeriji Art, Podgorica, Crna Gora. Ustupljeno ljubaznošću umjetnice i Galerije Art.


11Foto :Naslijeđeno sjećanje, video projekcija preslikana sa ogledalske folije na suprotni zid, dimenzije video projekcije 2,2 x 1,6 m. Nagrađeno YVAA – Young Visual Artists Award “Milčik”, ISU, Crna Gora, 2022. Ustupljeno ljubaznošću umjetnice i Jovana Miloševića.


12Foto: Quarantine memory_Intro Family, video instalacija i foto-dokumentacija, dimenzije video projekcije 1,4 x 3 m, dimenzije foto-dokumentacije 30 x 40cm, izloženo na transparentnoj podlozi suspendovanoj u prostoru, prezentovano na online samostalnoj izložbi, Torino, Italija, 2020. Ustupljeno ljubaznošću umjetnice.


13Foto: metaMONDI; Diorama u kartonskoj kutiji s unutrašnjim rasvjetnim sistemom; minijaturne skuplture/objekti, različite dimenzije, 2019; solo izložba u galeriji GABAYoung, Maćerata, Italija, Ustupljeno ljubaznošću umjetnice i GABAYoung Macerata.


14Foto: 02.22, video instalacija, variabilne dimenzije, u sklopu “Living The E(art)h” digitalnog projekta kreiranog u saradnji sa Ministarstvom kulture i medija Crne Gore, kurirala Giulia Perugini, 2020, video i foto-dokumentacija: https://youtu.be/LrBxuQvZ_hE. Ustupljeno ljubaznošću umjetnice.