Novo Naselje is home to a vibrant community of artists that are an integral part of the neighborhood, but in this context, we are referring to the community that emerged through the Magic Carpets project. Magic Carpets has had a significant impact on their mutual connection and their initiative to create together. These artists come from various cultural and art fields – visual arts, literature, music, performing arts, and others.
Over the years, this collaboration and joint efforts have shaped the idea of creating a publication called “Lexicon of Artists of Novo Naselje”.
Being one of newest districts of Novi Sad municipality, Novo Naselje has become a place where different generations of artists lived together – from actors, writers, composers and musicians in 1980’s, punk and alternative rock band members in 1990’s to activists and exponents of various artistic disciplines in 2000’s.
At the same time, as one of Novi Sad biggest social housing projects – Novo Naselje was imagined as a home for inhabitants from different public companies and services including culture and arts: companies and organizations such as theatres, radio and tv stations, symphonic orchestra, ballet and opera, libraries, etc.
Personally, we’ve found it incredibly inspiring and interesting to explore the past of Novo Naselje, Novi Sad and the state of Yugoslavia. Through this project, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the socialist Yugoslav era and the unique cultural dynamics that shaped the social landscape from the late 1970’s until today. One of the most precious perspectives we’re developing while working on the ‘Lexicon’ is to understand how the role of artists has evolved over time and how different political systems have influenced its recognition and societal impact.
One of the main goals of this research project is to create a comprehensive database of creators and key figures within the artistic scene in its broadest sense: literature, film, theater, visual arts, classical and rock music, as well as production across the artistic, cultural, and subcultural domains, from the establishment of Novo Naselje to the present day.
In collaboration with renowned cultural workers who are well-versed in the history, culture, and urban mythology of Novo Naselje – individuals who, at various points in their lives, have contributed to shaping cultural and subcultural events in this part of the city (such as Tibor Vajda, Slavko Matić, Igor Todorović, Danilo Vuksanović, and Igor Pavlović) – the project has compiled a list of over 250 artists who have lived or are currently living in Novo Naselje.
“Magic Carpets” project: “Double Bottom”
On the third day of the “Welcome to Naselje” festival, park “Among the birches” in Novo Naselje became a meeting point for a group of artists and professionals from various creative fields. They discussed their artistic practices, the cultural and social significance of Novo Naselje, and the phenomena and memories that make this part of the city unique. They also reflected on the remarkable fact that many artists from Novi Sad have roots in Novo Naselje or have spent significant periods of their lives here. This realization further highlights the importance of Novo Naselje as a vital artistic hub, with a vibrant artist residency programme that continues to nurture and foster the city’s cultural landscape.
Through the work “Double Bottom” by artist Slobodan Stošić, which was exhibited on the third day of the festival, the artists metaphorically stood at the “boundary” between the past and the present. The doormat, as an objet trouvé (found object), represents the encounter between everyday life and art, the functional and the symbolic. On the doormat, artists wiped off the “dirt” they brought from the outside world, symbolizing a liminal space – a place where personal and artistic histories meet. The very act of standing on the doormat became an act of artistic memory and affirmation, as each artist who stood on it became part of a larger cultural narrative – part of the artistic monument, part of the history of Novo Naselje.
This artwork, through the symbolism of the doormat and the role of artists as monuments, essentially explores the idea of artists as guardians of culture and bearers of artistic heritage. During their presentation at the festival, the artists became those who marked the space of Novo Naselje as a cultural center, recognizing the importance of their roles in shaping the artistic identity of the city. In this way, the festival became a space where artists were not just displayed but actively became part of that artistic and cultural “monument” – part of the collective memory of Novo Naselje.
The artists who participated in the festival, and who will be featured in the publication, symbolically become the bearers of Novo Naselje’s culture. Like the doormats, they are recognized as “monuments” that preserve and transmit artistic and cultural values to new generations, affirming their key role in creating and preserving the identity of this space.
Through the intertwining of ideas and narratives in both the artistic work and the publication, the importance of this community has become even clearer and more pronounced – in terms of what artists bring to the communities and spaces they engage with.
Number of community members included in the project: Editors and mentors: 3 – Vladimir Tupanjac, Milan Letić, Siniša Tucić. Artists that will be presented in publication: 250
Reasons for participating in the “Magic Carpets” project: The community of Novo Naselje Artists participated in the Magic Carpets project to highlight the significance of this area as an artistic hub and contribute to preserving its cultural identity. Through Magic Carpets and the Lexicon of Artists of Novo Naselje, the artists aimed to demonstrate how their work is part of the collective memory of this part of the city. The festival provided an opportunity for artists to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen their role in shaping the cultural narrative of Novo Naselje. This cultural narrative aligns with the broader themes of the Magic Carpets project, resonating with the creative practices of young artists from across Europe. In this way, the local artistic identity of Novo Naselje intertwines with wider European artistic trends.