Marko Marković | Artists in Residence | Kamov Residency

Marko Marković

Marko Marković is an artistic researcher focused on collective engagement in self-organized societies, developing autonomous models of coexistence through performative communication strategies.

As a performance artist, independent curator, and artistic producer, his work has centered on international cultural exchange and educational platforms in performance art, particularly through the international performance festival DOPUST / Days of Open Performance (2008–2018), held in Croatia, the United States, and Austria. He was awarded the YVAA / Young Visual Artist Award in 2011.

He has worked in artistic and film production, including as a project coordinator at Matthew Barney Studio in New York (2012–2014). Marković has presented his work at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (2016), La Biennale di Venezia – Biennale Sessions (Giardini, 2019), the International Biennial in Moscow (2016), and Kunsthalle Wien (2023).

Marković holds an MA in Art & Science from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, where he also worked as a program coordinator for the European Capital of Culture Rijeka 2020. He has been a visiting professor at UDK Berlin, TU Graz, the Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb, and the University of Applied Arts Vienna. He has also worked as an independent curator and collaborator with the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Rijeka and mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien.

Marko Marković’s research examines how performance art practices emerging from the transitional period of the former Yugoslavia generate embodied forms of knowledge that cannot be fully articulated through discursive or textual analysis alone. In this context, theory emerges from practice as an artistic strategy.

Developed under conditions of war and the post-war period, systemic instability, migration, and post-socialist neoliberal restructuring, these practices function as situated responses to shifting socio-political realities, including imperial and colonial influences. Through the body as a site of resistance, endurance, and public engagement, performance becomes both a mode of survival and a method of critical reflection.

During the KAMOV residency at MMSU Rijeka, Marko Marković will present a performative lecture addressing these topics, as articulated through his artistic and curatorial practice, particularly within the Days of Open Performance Archive. The lecture will also reflect on artists whose performative practices have been shaped by socio-political circumstances in Croatia and other countries of the region.

Museum of modern and contemporary art

→ www.mmsu.hr

Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka (HR) - MMSU

MMSU in Rijeka founded in 1948, in its long tradition offers a committed support to innovative ways of approaching, producing and presenting art. From its very beginning the Museum has been building reputation of one of the most prominent visual art institutions in Croatia, entrusted with presentation of Croatian artists at prestigious international art events such as: Venice Biennial 1962, 1997, 2007, 2010, Sao Paolo Biennial 1967, 2004 etc. 

The Museum rounds its programming around visual art education, parallel to different modes of exhibition concepts that address new discursive possibilities and transform it into a place of inspiration, idea exchange and active participation. Under the motto openness, creativity & engagement, together with artistic, cultural and community organizations, Museum furthers visual arts research, collaboration and exchange within the region and internationally, while aspiring to reach increasingly diverse audiences and to work in a close relationship with the community.

Museum’s collection offers a diverse range of artistic visions with over 8,000 artworks dated from the end of the 19^th century to the present day. From 2017 Museum is located at new address, Krešimirova 26c, in ex-industrial complex Rikard Benčić. Since then, some important exhibitions were organized at MMSU in the framework of the pre-program and program of Rijeka 2020 - European Capital of Culture, i.e. Tomislav Gotovac: Crisis Anticipator - Don't Ask Where We're Going (2017), Vlado Martek: Exhibition with Many Titles and Goran Petercol: Don't Worry About Poetics, They Will Arrive on Their Own in 2019 and David Maljković: With the Collection in 2020..