Still Life

The countries within the Former Yugoslavia always had their own flags. Mostly they were constructed of three stripes in red, white and blue. The colour lines were in different combination but what united them all was the red five-pointed star in the middle of each.

During the 90’s horrific civil wars took place in the Former Yugoslavia that consequently broke up the country into autonomous states. Very quickly, history books were rewritten and all symbols removed and buried in systematic oblivion. Once new countries came into existence, new emblems were constructed, almost the same as before but without the red star.

Vesna Milicevic belongs to the generation that once lived in Yugoslavia and is now a citizen of Serbia. During the performance she sits in a room surrounded by present day flags of newborn countries. She takes each and hand stitches the red star upon them. Accordingly, the reconstructed flags are positioned outside the building, to offer a free viewing to the public. (Predrag Pajdić)

Production: City of Women.

Organisation: City of Women; In collaboration with: Škuc Gallery; Archives of the Republic of Slovenia.