The exhibition forms part of the eponymous project marking the centenary of surrealism in Serbia and worldwide – one hundred years since the publication of André Breton’s first Manifesto of Surrealism and a century since the Belgrade Surrealist Circle’s inaugural publications and activities in autumn 1924. Titled Aktivitet: 100 Years of Surrealism, the Museum of Contemporary Art’s exhibition showcases to both domestic and international audiences the richness of Serbian surrealist production, its simultaneous developments and interrelations with other global surrealist movements, and its significance for 20th and 21st century art.

From the need to open new questions and approaches emerged the concept and aspiration for a collaborative design process while developing the project Aktivitet: 100 Years of Surrealism, we established the principle of collaborative design. This concept resulted in our partnership with Sven Jonke and Ivan Jonke, authors of the exhibition’s conceptual and spatial design:

The exhibition design engages with the curatorial framework through a free interpretation of the “surrealist wall” concept as articulated by Marko Ristić. This approach transforms partition walls from purely functional exhibition components into autonomous spatial installations or megastructures. The design incorporates elements of excess, absurdity and play, converting articulated wall surfaces into sculptural and conceptual features that productively re-examine classical relationships between space and exhibits. Rather than serving as neutral backdrops, the walls assume an active role in the exhibition narrative, introducing unexpected spatial relationships and perceptual shifts that encourage visitor participation and exploration.