1. How do you introduce yourself to someone?
I usually introduce myself as: Hi, my name is Jasna, I'm quarter of a century old. (I sound ancient like this.) I studied World literature in Skopje. I'm Macedonian. I'm a street artist and activist in my free time.
2. Do you provide for other people than yourself?
For how many?
No, I don't provide for anyone but myself, and I until recently I was supported by my parents.
3. Is it difficult to define your work?
Why?
Not really, as an artist I'm still easily definable- I like to think of myself as an engaged artist, that's why I chose the street as the exhibiting space. Otherwise I mainly do digital illustrations.
4. Can you make a living from your profession?
If not, how do you make a living?
Here in my environment, in my country I don't think so…I don't know how it is elsewhere but here since very recently I started to work a full time job as a graphic designer in a marketing agency. I know It's a little detour from my education and It's the contrary of activism but there wasn't any other choice, I'd rather have any means to support my artistic choice then having no means at all.
5. Do you work in group?
if so, with whom?
why ?
Usually on the streets its more effective if you are in agro up, but that's only the performing part, the technicalities, and to make an action of any kind you need people, in the making of the peace of art itself I rarely work in group. But if so I like it and always guard the experience as something valuable.
6. Is it important for you to work in a women-only group?
why?
Not, really, I`ts important to work in a group that is sensitive to all the real time issues usually people do not recognize such as sexism, chauvinism, homophobia and xenophobia,
Basically what I mean is that the high power machinery of the phalacy is something that everyone can get entrapped in to, no matter which sex is. The challenge of the women today is no less than to invent a new language. To learn how to speak, not to speak only against but outside of the phalocentric structure, to make a new discourse . (paraphrased form Shoshana Felman)
7. Is your work location specific?
Does your work need (inter)national mobility?
My activism work needed a special mobility but it wasn't granted, but almost every other thing I do can be done from here to. I can't say I don't wish for a day when I wouldn't be a prisoner in mine and a few other countries.
8. Do you need equipment to execute your job?
Yes, pc almost always, but I'ts also good to do it without any.
9. How do you invest in equipment?
Loan?
Gift?
Collective buying?
I buy stuff, never loans, I feel like loans are the modern day slavery system.
10. Do you personally connect art & technology?
Art & activism?
I connect them all, I think everything it`s interconnected these days and I like it, I like to do something with every tool I can get to, no borders.
For me, art should have more subtexts. We all have more subtexts.
11. Name 3 influences which determine your action radius?
Feminist & gender theory, postcolonial theory, activism, art…
12. are you part of (international) networks?
Which ones?
How?
Sort of. I'm not a member of any org. but I work with one Dutch originating /international organization for creative activism- Loesje.
13. Do you have experience with alternative formats of education?
Knowledge production?
I have a few workshops behind me…I love that concept and I always learn lots of new stuff, meet people and experience something new.
I think that internet is a very powerful tool for education, but just like any other tool, lets say knife-you can make a dinner with it, and kill a person too.
14. Do you retain ownership of your work once transfered?
How?
Basically I never sign my art on the streets. I feel as If I sign it it will become some sort of territorial pissing. We have enough of it as it is. The adds that take every inch of public space there is, the taggers, the graffiti artists that with all do respect but they write their names on the street in a stylized way.
Street art ,as one artist have said, is more aiming at transforming contextual situations in to a defined architecture.
15. Do you care about ecology and sustainable environments?
What do you do about it?
I do care allot. I don't own housing but I started from myself. I have adopted a vegetarian diet, I eat mainly organic food from the local markets, I don't buy a corporation food, I rationalize water use, I use bike and public transport mainly, I recycle paper, clothes, I love the DIY ethics
16. Is there an obstacle which keeps you from pursuing your interests?
Yes, there is. The mobility restriction that I have as a citizen of my country. I`t s totally paranoid, xenophobic and discriminating and shameful to have to go through so much bureaucracy to be able to go somewhere in Eu. There are countries I can't even get to to do my europen voluntary service which is ironically an European commission project and financing. Countries like Netherlands.
17. What do you see yourself doing at the age of 70?
I see myself living in an eco vila ;) animals have already gain there rights, and people saved their planet. Haha, I wish. I think I will live to be 60 years most.
18. Describe and/or make a drawing of your workspace.
My room, the office, the street
Which one I like the most?
My room and the street off course. But the office Is not that bad lately, people are really nice so far.
The pc desk and the floor of my room-where I draw, cut and paint.
On the street I love old deteriorating facades, or some objects that I can put into context with the peace of street art.
Brussels
Jasna Dimitrovska, activist and street artist:
"Hi, my name is Jasna. I studied World literature in Skopje. I'm Macedonian. In my free time I'm a street artist and an activist.
I like to think of myself as an engaged artist, that's why I choose the street as my exhibiting space.
I think art and technology and activism are all interconnected, so I like to realise my goals with whatever tool I can use, no borders!
Basically I never sign my art on the streets. Signing would become some sort of territorial pissing. Street art is more aimed at transforming contextual situations into a defined architecture.
Feminist & gender theory, postcolonial theory, activism, art… are my most important influences. The challenge of being a women today is no less than to invent a new language. To learn how to speak, not to speak only against but outside of the phallocentric structure, to make a new discourse.
I love workshop formats because of the (unexpected ??) participants I meet and the experience to learn something new. I think that internet is a very powerful tool for education too.
An ecological approach is very important to me. I have adopted a vegetarian diet, eat mainly organic food from the local markets, I rationalise water use, use a bike and public transport, recycle paper, clothes and I love the DIY ethics.
The mobility restriction that I have as a citizen of my country, is one obstacle that actually keeps me from pursuing my interests. It's totally paranoid, xenophobic, discriminating and shameful to have to go through so much bureaucracy to be able to go somewhere in EU."
Skopje
activism
networks
online
technology
women empowerment
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