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 A22, 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” award (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 practice 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 technologies. Presently, my focus lies in studio-based research and the conception of site-specific installations, 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 scale 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.
1Image: 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.
2 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.
4Image: 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.
5Image: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.
6Image: 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.
7metaMONDI; 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.
8Image: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.
