This catalogue for an exhibition at MAXXI Museum in Rome brings together 50 contemporary artists from ex-Yugoslavia whose work explores the history of the region through the action of contemporary heroes, and reflects on issues of acceptance and peaceful coexistence. In thematic sections (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Hope, Risk, the Individual, Otherness, Metamorphosis), the show asks if the legacy of Socialism can help to recover the concept of "common good" in a complex region which has recently endured the tragedy of a civil war and the rise of Nationalism. Text in English and Italian. AUTHORS: Zdenka Badovinac is a curator and writer, who has served since 1993 as director of the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana, comprised since 2011 of two locations: the Museum of Modern Art and the Metelkova Museum of Contemporary Art in Metelkova, an autonomous art, culture, and social center in Ljublijana. Giulia Ferracci has collaborated with MACRO - Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Roma and Ministero Dei Beni Culturali - Darc Direzione generale per l'Arte e l'Architettura Contemporanee. She is a curator at MAXXI where she has worked since 2010. 55 colour, 16 b/w illustrations
Zdenka Badovinac is a curator and writer, who has served since 1993 as director of the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana, comprised since 2011 of two locations: the Museum of Modern Art and the Metelkova Museum of Contemporary Art in Metelkova, an autonomous art, culture, and social center in Ljublijana. Giulia Ferracci has collaborated with MACRO - Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Roma and Ministero Dei Beni Culturali - Darc Direzione generale per l'Arte e l'Architettura Contemporanee. She is a curator at MAXXI where she has worked since 2010.
Essays: Preface by Giovanna Melandri Be Greater than Ourselves! In the Guise of a Preface by Hou Hanru A journey through the exhibition by Giulia Ferracci Bigger than Myself - from Ex-Yugoslavia with Love by Zdenka Badovinac History as a Common. Scenes for a New Heritage in the Art of Ex-Yugoslavia by Marco Scotini The (Non-)Contemporaneity of Heroism by Miklavz Komelj Shock-Workers on Shock-Therapy by Branislav Dimitrijevic The Hero Is a Modest Amateur. On Blaise, Bond and Korchagin by Boris Buden Bigger Than Oneself by Tomaz Mastnak Three Fragments on Heroes by Mladen Dolar Postulates of Neohumanism, Or Why Can Reason Only Be Human? by Keti Chukhrov List of artists: FREEDOM Maja Bajevic, Djordje Balmazovic, Lana Cmajcanin, Group of Anonymous Artists and Activists, Ibro Hasanovic, IRWIN, Adela Jusic, Sinisa Labrovic, Dalibor Martinis, Tobias Putrih, Driton Selmani, Mladen Stilinovic, Milica Tomic, Udruzenje Kurs EQUALITY Marina Abramovic, Bozena Koncic Badurina, Duga Mavrinac, Vlasta Delimar, Hristina Ivanoska, Sanja Ivekovic, Gjorgje Jovanovik, Darinka Pop-Mitic, Marta Popivoda, Ana Vujanovic, Lala Rascic, Zelimir Zilnik BROTHERHOOD Danica Dakic, Igor Grubic, Doruntina Kastrati, Somer Spat, Marko Tadic,Miro Manojlovic HOPE Yane Calovski, Jasmina Cibic, David Maljkovic, Luiza Margan, Anja Medved, Nadja Veluscek RISK Lenka Djorojevic, Matej Stupica, Sinisa Ilic, Marko Peljhan, Matthew Biederman, Andrej Skufca, Natalija Vujosevic AN INDIVIDUAL Fatmir Mustafa-Karllo, Tomislav Gotovac, Janez Jansa, Vladimir Nikolic, Ilija Soskic ALIENNESS Nika Autor, Alban Muja, Zoran Todorovic METAMORPHOSES Joze Barsi, Istvan Huzjan, Gregor Mobius, Marko Pogacnik, Marjetica Potrc, Nada Prlja, Maja Smrekar
