EX-SITU: Artistic Perspectives on Endangered Biodiversity and Species Coexistence

In the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, nestled within the Vranica mountain range, resides the Bosnian Mountain Triton – a water-dwelling amphibian species deemed endangered. The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is undertaking the construction of a vivarium for ex-situ conservation of this species. The museum's initiative aims to ensure the continuous existence of this vivarium, safeguarding the species in the event of extinction in its natural habitat.

The Bosnian Mountain Triton and the planned vivarium serve as focal points for the contemporary art exhibition titled "EX-SITU" at the Natural Sciences Department of the National Museum in Sarajevo. Eighteen artists and artistic groups from Central and Southeastern Europe present works that intersect nature, human activity, and the diversity of endangered life forms in the Anthropocene. The exhibition in the Natural Sciences Department directly links artistic practices with scientific references.

Macedonian artists participating in the project include Darko Aleksovski, presenting a series of works titled "And the Mountains Continued to Whisper," and Nada Prlja, with an installation composed of nine paintings under the title "I Was Born to Fly III" and Umwelt (environment), an intervention on an existing museum display case. Alongside Aleksovski and Prlja, the exhibition features works by Lamija Čehajić, Danube Transformation Agency for Agency, Anita Fuks, Teuta Gatolin, Ernst Koselič, Polonca Lovšin, Ralo Mayer, Edith Payer, Irena Lagator Pejović, Lala Raščić, Oliver Ressler, Ivan Shukovski, Adrien Ujhazi/Nemanja Milenković, Ana Vasof, Driant Zeneli, and Dardan Žegrova. The exhibition is curated by Margarete Makovec and Anton Lederer.

Symposium

A significant component of the project is a one-day symposium with participants from the visual arts field and experts in natural sciences. Macedonian visual artists Hristina Ivanoska and Nada Prlja are among the symposium's contributors. This meeting of curators, cultural workers, artists, and scientists aims to promote exchange within the context of the exhibition's theme and the National Museum's project for the protection of the Bosnian Mountain Triton, catering to a broader audience.

Acknowledgments and Conclusion: The curators express gratitude for the references and recommendations provided by Irena Borić, Adela Demetja, Irfan Hošić, Hristina Ivanoska/Jane Chalovski/Jovanka Popova, Ajete Kerçeli/Nita Zeqiri, Andrea Palasti, and Natalija Vujošević. The project by <rotor> Center for Contemporary Art (Graz, Austria), commissioned by the Department of Culture of Styria, initiated by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, is dedicated to the endangered Bosnian Mountain Triton.

As art intertwines with science in this exhibition, it underscores the urgency of protecting biodiversity and fostering coexistence between species in the face of anthropogenic threats. The engagement of artists from North Macedonia adds a unique perspective to this vital conversation.