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Sergej Damovski: The Art Market Barely Exists In Macedonia


Sergej Damovski: The Art Market Barely Exists In Macedonia President of AVAM, Sergej Damovski. Photo: Radovan Vujovic

The Association of Visual Artists of Macedonia (AVAM) has been "fighting" for six decades, with its descriptive exhibitions, such as the Winter Salon and the Annual Exhibition of Graphic Art and Small Format Painting, to promote and qualitatively contribute to the development of the Macedonian contemporary art scene.

Before the end of the last year, the Association got a new President, the sculptor and painter Sergej Damovski. His works "talk" in a language of contemporary culture, a style he describes as expressive, figurative abstraction. He says he is using the modernists’ method of analysis and synthesis of the composition’s different structural elements. His latest individual exhibition was held in September last year, and it received excellent reviews. Here is what he has to say about art life in Macedonia, its challenges and the current situation.

To what extent do the activities of AVAM really contribute to the development of the independent art scene in Macedonia?

-As an association consisted of 400 members, out of whom about 100 actively participate in the projects (exhibitions), AVAM does really contribute to the development of the independent art scene. The projects are conceived in such a way to allow the authors ''open hands'' in terms of the technical and meditative process of the work they choose to present. However, this is not sufficient since there are much more possibilities to work on the development of the art scene in Macedonia. Therefore, our priority is to develop this Association into an active organization that will actively participate in the creation of a contemporary and avant-garde scene, apt to influence world trends in art, with a powerful energy and genuine expression, specific for our region.

Do you think our country disposes of a sufficient number of exhibition capacities?

-No, on the contrary, the number is insufficient and the ones that do exist need a more modern technical support (with very few exceptions). I think we all miss the point here, both the state and the private sector. For instance, AVAM has 60 years of tradition but it does not have its own exhibition facility, even though there was one in the past. Other project on the Association’s agenda is to lobby with state institutions and successful companies to support the establishment of an exhibition facility that would rightfully belong to AVAM, thus creating better conditions for implementation of a greater number of projects.

Is it important to have various exhibition facilities and how do they influence the development of contemporary art?

It is, indeed, very important, but it is also important that those facilities or exhibition salons are modernly equipped to be able to respond to every creative thought the author might have, which the curator would know how to display.

What could be AVAM’s contribution in improving the situation with the young artists? How could they be motivated to continue their profession?

-One of AVAM’s objectives is to support and promote young generations of authors. Many of them have just started exhibiting on some of AVAM’s exhibitions and are expected to be AVAM’s driving force in the future by introducing fresh ideas in their new projects, contributing to the development of professionalism and free and creative exchange of opinions.

Will AVAM now, with its new leadership, start new projects or will remain on the already established awards and certificates and the same exhibition venues?

-Certainly, it will not. We have already planned implementation of new projects with active initiatives (teams composed of AVAM’s members) to find ways for more successful financing and also teams in charge of negotiations, lobbying and cooperation with other institutions, organizations, companies whose priority is or will be financing of cultural projects. I do hope the public will recognize this and the cooperation will be successful.

At the moment, we are handling talks with different NGOs on cross-border collaboration projects which will enable regional and local artists to present their works. Our aim is to also get financial support from the European funds for this kind of projects.

Have we succeeded in keeping up the pace with the latest developments in the world in terms of contemporary art?

-Yes, we have, we do follow the latest developments; yet, we lack organization and more money. We have excellent artists here that would be a major success. It is not difficult to keep up the pace with what is going on today in the world of art, but we need to bring the world closer. Unfortunately, the public is not ready to be patron of such projects because of the low level of education. For instance, a successful company would rather finance a concert of Ceca, or some TV network would rather broadcast ten Turkish soap operas than finance a TV program dedicated to culture and cultural life in our own country.

What can AVAM do to help improve that situation?

-I have already answered this question. There are ideas and authors that work hard. AVAM helps them by including them in its annual program, but, still there is room to do more. I would quote the following popular saying: "Help me so I can help you".

With the new ways of financing we hope to achieve, we plan to work on new projects with young artists, sculptors, video artists, digital photographers and creative workers. We hope that such artistic events will transform into traditionally held happenings. The main problem of the Macedonian art scene always is the lack of funds. However, support from official institutions and international affirmation is also a problem. The art market barely exists here. The economic situation is an impediment for the citizens to purchase art works, but also managers, people who have contacts with galleries and international organizations, are needed to mediate between artists and the showcasing of their work.

At the moment, we intend to find one major sponsor who will provide a modest sum of money for the annual operations of AVAM to cover the expenses for implementation of current projects and provide the basis for our new envisaged projects. This would be a long-term collaboration and would allow this sponsor to be renowned as art’s benefactor.

Can artists make a living only as professionals in Macedonia?

-No! Those who make a living solely of their art are very rare. Many of us have to make compromise decisions or have a second or a third job to make ends meet. It is common that visual artists work as graphic designers, teach in schools or do something else, while trying to live only of their art.

 The Association of Visual Artists of Macedonia has held two major events in the past couple of months. The Winter Salon was opened on February 5. It is an exhibition that takes place every two years, and is dedicated to a sepcific topic, often related to contemporary school of thought or artistic tendencies. This year, the curator of the event, titled the exhibition ''Body that Remembers'' and it was very popular among the citiy's art lovers.

The AVAM also organized and presented the ''Small Format'' exhibition, later in the month.

Next on their schedule is the ''Skopje Urban Stories'' exhibition, which will be traditionally held for a seventh year. A curator gives a specific theme and selects the works who will tell a visual story of his/hers own concept.

Nikolina Stojanova
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