PUBLIKUM CALENDARS OF THE NEW ART
Publikum Calendar is an art project. It’s a public debate on cultural and political issues. It’s happening. It’s an examination of public communication. It’s a series of personal stories told by creative philosophers. Oh, and you can tell what date it is. –Douglas Atkin, author of the book The Culting of Brands
'Impossible''Impossible' by Stanislav Sharp
Edition 1993
THE FIRST CALENDAR, “IMPOSSIBLE,” WAS ART DIRECTED, DESIGNED, AND FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHS BY STANISLAV SHARP (AKA DJORDJE MILEKIC). IT BLENDS SERBIAN AVANT GARDE SURREALIST VISUALS WITH SHARP’S SIGNATURE PORTRAITURE TO COMMENT ON YUGOSLAVIA’S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FREEFALL.
Publikum Calendar was a non-profit, interdisciplinary, international project, whose mission was to facilitate meaningful artistic dialogue among artists, designers, and the global public. It was an innovative communication medium that connected diverse beliefs and cultures by introducing Serbian artists to an international audience and bringing world-renowned artists to Serbia.
'Antiwall''Antiwall' by Mirko Ilić
Edition 2002
PUBLIKUM CALENDAR WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY AND UNIQUE ANNUAL CULTURAL DESIGN PROJECT: PART WALL CALENDAR, PART OVERSIZED COFFEE-TABLE BOOK, AND PART ART OBJECT. “ANTIWALL,” ART DIRECTED AND DESIGNED BY MIRKO ILIĆ, FEATURED WORKS BY 12 WORLD RENOWNED ARTISTS. THE CALENDAR WAS STORED INSIDE AN ACCOMPANYING OVERSIZED BOOK.
THE MISSION OF “ANTIWALL” WAS TO CHALLENGE THE BOUNDARIES OF TRADITIONAL ART DISCIPLINES AND AMONG COUNTRIES. CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS INCLUDED BARBARA KRUGER, MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ, ME COMPANY, CHRISTO, OLIVIERO TOSCANI, DAVID BYRNE, VIK MUNIZ, AND AES GROUP. BELOW: “SERBIAN PICTOGRAMS” BY SLAVIMIR STOJANOVIĆ
Since Publikum Calendar’s inception 1993 until 2008, it has published works by over 100 contributing renowned Serbian artists including Slavimir Stojanović, Aleksandar Kujučev, Dragan Papić, Vladimir Perić, Dragoljub Zamurović, Nebojša Babić, Borut Vild; as well as international icons like Christo, Oliviero Toscani, Barbara Kruger, David Byrne, Wim Wenders, Marina Abramović, Mirko Ilić, Luba Lukova, Tadanori Yoko, Karllsonwilker, Andrea Dezso, and Paula Scher.
'Wired'Wired ManMan XXOO' by Talent Factory
Edition 2000
VLADIMIR PERIĆ (a.k.a. TALENT FACTORY) WAS THE FEATURED ARTIST FOR “WIRED MAN XXOO.” HE “PAINTED WITH LIGHT” BY USING A LASER POINTER WHILE PHOTOGRAPHING IN LONG EXPOSURE. HIS ORIGINAL “ Fe0₂” TYPOGRAPHY WAS MADE OUT OF PIECES OF DISPOSED METAL.
…The Publikum Calendаr represents far and away one of the most inspiring design efforts I have ever seen. It proofs once and for all that relevant, world class design is possible far from the traditional design centers… –Stefan Sagmeister
The 2000 limited edition copies produced each year were provided free of charge to creatives, distinguished professionals, institutions, and organizations in the worlds of art, education, culture, media, and business, mostly in Serbia but also in Europe and the US.
'Goobledy-Gook''Goobledy-Gook' by Paula Scher
Edition 2007
PAULA SCHER’S VISUAL AND VERBAL JOURNEY CONTRASTS SERBIAN CYRILLIC AND ROMAN ALPHABETS. SCHER TITLED HER TYPOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND ALPHABET “GOBBLEDY-GOOK,” OR NONSENSE, SINCE IT APPEARS AS SUCH TO A PERSON UNFAMILIAR WITH CYRILLIC WRITING.
PREDRAG BATA RISTANOVIĆ, PRINTING HOUSE PUBLIKUM DIRECTOR, GREETING OVER 1,500 GUESTS AT THE 2007 LAUNCH AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, BELGRADE.
'Fenoman:'Fenoman: Slavimir
Edition 2004
SLAVIMIR STOJANOVIĆ, THE UNDISPUTED HERO OF THE SERBIAN DESIGN SCENE, WAS THE FEATURED ARTIST FOR 2004 EDITION. HE CREATED A SERIES OF ILLUSTRATIONS REFLECTING MODERN HUMAN LIFESTYLE.
THE TWO-WEEK LONG PUBLIC EXHIBITION, HELD AT ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT BELGRADE SQUARES, ATTRACTED 15,000 VISITORS. THE LAUNCH OF EACH NEW PUBLIKUM CALENDAR AND ACCOMPANYING EXHIBITIONS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE A MUST-GO EVENT IN BELGRADE. PHOTO: SRDJAN RALIĆ
Through their creativity artists challenged conventions in the fields of design, illustration, photography, and branding to create powerful messages.
Creativity: A Power to Connect.
Debbie Millman, Lazar Džamić, Mirko Ilić, Nada Ray, Slavimir Stojanović, Vladimir Perić Talent, Karlssonwilker
IDIOTIDIOT by Dragan Papić
Edition 1996
THE MUSEUM “25 OF MAY” IN AN ELITE NEIGHBORHOOD IN BELGRADE, WAS BUILT IN 1965 TO STORE MEDALS, GIFTS, AND OTHER SYMBOLS OF POWER THAT BELONGED TO SOFT HANDED YUGOSLAV DICTATOR, JOSIP BROZ TITO. IN 1997 THE THEN DESERTED MONUMENT OF HIS POWER WAS AN IDEAL PLACE FOR THE ART PERFORMANCES AND PUBLIC LAUNCH OF PUBLIKUM CALENDAR “IDIOT.” FOR THAT NIGHT, THE MUSEUM WAS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ARCHITECTURAL ART OBJECT ITSELF.
BELOW: MORE THAN 2000 EVENT GUESTS COULD CHOOSE FROM APPROPRIATE “IDIOT” STICKERS TO WEAR.
Publikum Calendar is a time capsule, the evidence of artistic survival in some grimmest of times in the history of the nation. –Lazar Dzamić, author of the No Copy Advertising
'Life''Life' by Belgrade YoungYoung CreativesCreatives
Edition 2001
“LIFE” ORIGINATED AS THE FRUIT OF WORKSHOPS LASTING SEVERAL MONTHS THAT THE FIA ART GROUP ORGANIZED AND HELD IN IT’S STUDIO IN BELGRADE WITH STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS, DESIGNERS, VISUAL ARTISTS, WRITERS, AND ARCHITECTS. THE BROAD THEME OF “LIFE” WAS LIBERATION, FREEDOM FROM FORM, AND, ABOVE ALL, WAKING DORMANT CREATIVE ENERGY. THE PROJECT PUBLISHED WORKS BY MORE THAN 50 YOUNG CREATIVES, INCLUDING IGOR ORŠOLIĆ, JANA NIKOLIĆ, NATALIJA SAVIĆ, NEBOJŠA CVETKOVIĆ, DORIAN KOLUNDŽIJA, VUKAŠIN NEDELJKOVIĆ, IRENA MILENKOVIĆ, MARIJA ZIROJEVIĆ, NIKOLA BOŽOVIĆ KOLJA, IVAN ARSENIJEVIĆ, PAULA MIKLOŠEVIĆ, JOVANA MIRKOVIĆ, IVAN PETROVIĆ, IVAN GRUBANOV, DEJAN KALUDJEROVIĆ, AND OTHERS.
THE ”LIFE” PRESS CONFERENCE WAS HELD AT BELGRADE ZOO IN THE MONKEYS’ CAGE. THE UNIQUE GATHERING CONSISTED OF 30 MAJOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES, FEATURED STUDENT ARTISTS, AND THE CREATIVE PRODUCTION TEAM; PHOTO: JOVANA MIRKOVIĆ. BELOW: WALLPAPER ‘SERBIA IN THE 90’S’ BY IRENA MILENKOVIC.
The launch of each new Publikum Calendar and accompanying exhibitions were considered to be a must event in Serbia. Project exhibitions attracted virtually thousands of visitors in Belgrade and were supported by the Belgrade City Council, National Television, and numerous Serbian media.
'Karlssonwilker VSVS Serbia'
Edition 2006
HJALTI KARLLSON AND JAN WILKER OF KARLSSONWILKER STUDIO FROM NEW YORK, DESIGNED PUBLIKUM CALENDAR 2004 IN 12 DAYS DURING THEIR VISIT TO SERBIA; EACH DAY ONE CALENDAR PAGE.
PHOTO BELOW: KARLSSONWILKER’S SURPRISE WELCOME PARTY AT THE BELGRADE AIRPORT WAS A RECREATION OF EVENTS THAT USED TO BE ORGANIZED FOR HIGH PROFILE POLITICIANS VISITS, DURING THE COMMUNIST ERA IN SERBIA – PIONEERS, FOLK DANCERS, ETC,… PHOTO: SRDJAN RALIĆ
PREDRAG BATA RISTANOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIKUM PRINTING HOUSE, ENJOYING KARLSSONWILKER’S IDEAS FOR THE CALENDAR AFTER THEIR 5TH DAY IN BELGRADE.
TRAILER FOR THE DOCUMENTARY VIDEO ABOUT KARLSSONWILKER’S 12 DAYS IN SERBIA.THE VIDEO TEAM RECORDED EVENTS DURING KARLSSONWILKER’S 12 DAY STAY IN SERBIA.
PRODUCTION: CYBER ENTERTAINMENT & VUK MARJANOVIĆ; DIRECTOR: SRDJAN RADOJKOVIĆ; CAMERA: DIMITRIJE JOKOVIĆ.
The final product & event, expressed into a rich multiform variety of media is a one-of-a-kind showcase of a true design process… –Laetitia Wolf, editor of Surface magazine
