Jana Vasiljević
Zwankendamme
Jana Vasiljević created a large mural on a central wall in the village. It depicts a view that can actually be seen from a certain vantage point a little further down the village. That image has been simplified into a colourful and personal interplay of shapes that is still recognisable. In addition to this cheerful doubling of the village, the artist is also working hard to connect the residents. She does this by publishing Zwankendamschap, a friendship book that is passed from resident to resident, and by cooking a Serbian meal for visitors on Saturdays.
Jana Vasiljević on the neighbourhood, her creative process, and the tour she will give of her work.
During my first visits to Zwankendamme, I was particularly struck by how compact and well-organised the village is. A church, a few streets and the harbour that encloses everything. I noticed that there is a strong community spirit and recognised that feeling from the village where I grew up. But at the same time, it seems as if the sense of community is diminishing and isolation is increasing.
My work consists of two complementary parts. First and foremost, I depict the village literally in a mural, albeit in a simplified version. I think it is important that my work depicts the environment itself, that it is not an external visual language. If you walk a little further away from the mural, you can see exactly the same view that my image is based on. I also want to contribute to the social cohesion of Zwankendamme. I do this in the form of a friendship book that every resident can fill in and pass on, and by cooking for people. Food always brings people together.
The mural literally puts the landscape of Zwankendamme at the centre of the village. I hope that walking past the mural will be a pleasure because it creates a sense of recognition and ownership: this is our village. It could become a kind of landmark. As for the friendship book, I hope that today it will become a way to connect with each other. After this edition of Uitwijken, I want to leave the completed books here so that they become an archive of Zwankendamme in 2022. In a few years' time, you will be able to read back who lived here, what their favourite colour was and what they were afraid of.
BIO
Jana Vasiljević is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in storytelling, illustration and community arts. As the child of a Serbian father and a West Flemish mother, these different cultural backgrounds and experiences have always had a major influence on her practice, both in terms of form and content. Jana alternates between intimate works with a focus on personal stories and a more collaborative practice in which she puts the community at the centre. Jana is a member of the collectives Tieten Met Haar and Les VoiZines, which focus on alternative comics, zines and DIY publications. She is also co-founder of the art collective Garden Of Delights, with which Jana explores hidden structures and power dynamics that underlie unrecognised and unappreciated labour.
Credits
With thanks to Gilles De Moor, Martina Petrović, Pieter Van Vlaenderen, Marie-Poul and Eric, and all the residents.