Overwhelmed, performance with Black Mediterranean

The picture on textile triggers a performative action and reflects on the geopolitical position of the Mediterranean – the “cradle of civilization”, a geological basin, and the “blue border of Fortress Europe”, which migrant labor forces cross under life-threatening conditions. The textile is intended to trigger a collective performance: to “spill over”, to overcome and “swallow”, creating an experience of being overwhelmed, (in)visible, disoriented in space, while facing the volatile, wavy material that, once disturbed, can hardly be contained.

The performance series Overwhelmed explores the use of oversized textiles as carriers of images and performative objects. This textile migrates from static display in galleries to becoming an interactive element in the space shared by performers and the audience. The concept of this series is to evoke spontaneous or planned actions in communal settings, creating a sense of physical and sensory immersion.  

As part of Art Explora Festival, the performance takes place along a route from a building, exhibition space, through the streets, all the way to the marina. The image of the Mediterranean appears unexpectedly in the urban environment, acting as a fleeting picture, and adding another visual layer to the cityscape. The route and activities related to the handling of the textile are the result of a workshop with local artists and art-students. 

Overwhelmed is the result of collaboration between visual artist Siniša Ilić and theatre maker Bojan Đorđev, who have been working together on numerous art projects for 25 years.

Siniša Ilić

Siniša Ilić lives and works in Belgrade. He is a visual artist who combines works on paper with installation, video, and performance. His art practice focuses on exploring various social tensions – whether related to sustainability, cultural heritage, labor conditions, or migrations – as well as on finding ways to nurture friendship and solidarity. He often approaches these themes from a historical perspective, questioning the relationship between the global South and the West, particularly through the lens of escalating violence. The former state of Yugoslavia is frequently the subject his work, both for its historical significance and its contemporary connotations. Ilić is interested in how the past often finds ways to seep through the cracks of the present, and whether this past can be reconciled with the current moment.