Places we love
Basic information
Project Title
Places we love
Category
Regaining a sense of belonging
Project Description
“Places we love exist only in us”
Ivan V. Lalic
Ivan V. Lalic
Geographical Scope
Cross-border/international
Project Region
CROSS-BORDER/INTERNATIONAL: Austria, Serbia
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
“Places we love exist only in us” is the opening sentence in a poem by Ivan V. Lalic. This video series is a project where I ask different people to tell their stories about belonging. Every episode contains 3 art workers of younger generations having creative control over how they want to be filmed, where, and what they want to speak about.
series can be seen here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ6MHj9ciVnclEDzPH5RbFtXBx1Awk0Mq
series can be seen here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ6MHj9ciVnclEDzPH5RbFtXBx1Awk0Mq
Key objectives for sustainability
With this project, I am telling a story about belonging. This question is very important, especially among the younger generation. It covers so many topics, from ecology to language, I filmed people from several countries, and while thinking it will be diverse on a deeper level all the stories come to the same point, we are all lost. Why this hopeless statement can be helpful to anyone? Sometimes all that we need is to see that we are not alone in our struggle and that is where the real power of this work is.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
I often film monochromatic, so that the story can be the real main actor of the films, this time I also used all my knowledge from previous art education in the field of visual arts, to create great visual scenography for the story that is so painful and powerful at the same time. This project also can teach us that without any financial support and any expensive tools you can create beautiful art if you have an honest and important idea to share with the world.
Key objectives for inclusion
As a gay man living with HIV in a small city in western Serbia, I know the feeling of exclusion very well, being discriminated against and marginalized, this project was impossible in my country, but someone recognized my quality and asked me to come to Vienna and show some of my works, I wanted to give something back and started first talking about and that soon filming this. I choose to have different people I meet (all residents of Vienna) tell their stories in their native languages and express freely talking about anything they want. This project is free for presentation and distribution.
Results in relation to category
I feel full of life and extremely motivated because this project opened so many doors for the future development of my career, in a way that I found a new fresh voice I feel really excited to use more in work. I was always interested in the human experience in contemporary society, but this was the biggest project I ever did and the most serious one. I plan to continue with filming when I get the opportunity because I feel there is great potential here.
How Citizens benefit
All of the people participating in this project and those who had a chance to watch the series were so interested in this discussion, and they share my view of this theme as very important in contemporary society and that they don't feel like we are dealing with this topic enough. I chose very different people, among them, there were many who don't think they have enough to offer, not because they are less important, but just because no one ever asked them to express how they see the world around them. After presenting this work every time I get the same reaction, so many people are interested to share their own experiences, and that for me is a great outcome.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
My visual language, specific monochromatic way of filming, and interest in humanistic themes, everyday struggles without flirting with sensationalism, starting from my own experience, from an honest place, differentiates me from the mainstream. Connecting different approaches, from film to documentary and experimental journalism, influenced by literature and philosophy, this project makes special.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
I was filming, editing, sound designer, and full creator of this project.
Methodology used
A lot of consulting, discussion, speaking and asking people to participate, working individually with everyone, giving them all the trust and freedom to express themselves.
How stakeholders are engaged
I did this project independently, without any organisational or financial support.
Global challenges
For me, what I feel is the answer provided in this project, is that belonging often is much more about people around us than physical places. In this world of great migrations, this vibrant new world of everything and everyone, the only recipe to feel at home is to find a home in yourself, your chosen family, and your culture inside of books and films and paintings and music, etc. This project is trying to communicate that, only together we can grow. I read in a sociology book recently - the closer we are to "us", the further away we are from "them", that is our enemy and I'm doing what I can to fight it.
Learning transferred to other parties
Commercial television can use this idea and translate it into their language, using connections with influential people who can cover a much bigger audience and make a greater impact. Other artists can see that they have bigger responsibilities and much more power they can and should use.
Keywords
migration
youth
diversity
socio-political enviroment
artist position in sociaty
