Goli Otok (Naked Island), 2001, Goli Otok, Adriatic See
Goli otok (Naked Island) is the name of an ex-communist prison situated on the island of Goli otok in the Adriatic see. In the summer of 2001 the island was visited by a group of artists with the intention to make several installations and performances.
Goli otok, 2001, four-slide projections in an old casino and cinema, four projectors, electric power generator
After making a research about the conditions in the prison after the World War II, and after having read some books and spoken with several ex-prisoners, I thought of three words that can define the prison’s politics and attitude toward the prisoners.
Guilt – you have to understand your guiltiness
Penitence – it is expected of you to repent your “deeds”
Collaboration – when (if) you get out of prison you have to co-operate with the secret service
Happy End – that’s how it ended (reference to the space of the old cinema)
Grand Hotel Goli Otok
For the project ’Goli Otok 2001’ I prepared 10 t-shirts with the inscription ’Grand Hotel Goli Otok’ with five stars. The shirts were given to the participants of the project.The work was a parody on the fact that Goli Otok, a former prison, was known as one of the most cruel in the post-war Yugoslavia. Goli Otok became a paradygm for prosecution of politycal enemies.
Dear Snjezana I am very well I am alive
The prisoners of Goli Otok were allowed to send postcards from the island, but all post was checked prior to sending. It was not possible to criticize the regime or the conditions in the prison with such letters. Because of that, I have sent a SMS message from the island to my wife that everything is just fine.
