Jovanka Popova is a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art – Skopje
and at Press to Exit Project Space, an organisation for contemporary art and
curatorial practices in Skopje. She was curator of the North Macedonian
Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale (2019) and curator and coordinator
of the Parallel Program (2021–2023) held at MoCA Skopje in connection to
Manifesta 14 in Prishtina. Previously, she was the executive director of
the Jadro Association of the Independent Cultural Scene of North Macedonia and
the president of the Macedonian Section of AICA (International Association of
Art Critics). She presented her work at number of universities and art
academies, including Humboldt University in Berlin, Central European University
in Budapest, Goethe University in Frankfurt, Hankuk University of Foreign
Studies in Seoul, Bahcesehir University in Istanbul, and Trondheim Academy of
Fine Arts, among others.
In the wake of Skopje’s devastating earthquake of 1963, an initiative
spearheaded by the International Association of Plastic Arts prompted artists
from around the world to respond with valuable donations of artworks. This
generous gesture led to the creation of a unique solidarity collection at the
Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje. The collection reflected the geopolitical
tensions of its time and served as a diplomatic tool to enhance political
alliances, foster international unity, and address the needs of a devastated
city. Yet, how can we speak of solidarity in an increasingly globalised yet
divided world? And how should cultural institutions continue to embody the
spirit of solidarity in addressing the social and political challenges of
today? By revisiting the museum’s historical roots and
envisioning its future, and through drawing parallels between solidarity in the
past and our present, the presentation will focus on the ongoing relevance of
collective action in addressing current and future crises.
