So I had heard there was a good selection of street art in the tourist areas of Belgrade; however if I wanted a real treat I should take myself out of the city centre and visit a semi abandoned industrial area the site of a former brickworks.
I didn't need to be told twice!
I fell into the tourist trap: giving the address I wanted in Ciglana, I was told the cost was 30 euro. Fucking hell, thought I thats not cheap, but needs must. the journey seemed to take forever. Anyways eventually arrived asking the driver how far we had come it was about 9km. Yup I have been ripped off!
I just followed the lens up the cobbled roadway. Was it worth it?
Judge for yourself.
The area was a mix of styles by many artists, including some "scrap metal" structures. I have spread them over a couple of posts as there is too much for a single blog.
Having now read up about this area, it seems to be a hub for alternative entertainment.
"Ciglana - The heavy industry lovers' club is a new art district of Belgrade. The site of an alternative culture in the abandoned space of an industrial plant was created for an art world with quality music. The former factory is now a space with a bar, several studios and galleries."
In 2019 a festival Dev9t was held on site, I guess that is why it is jam packed with so many pieces of art by so many artists. Some of the artwork still on show dates back to earlier Dev9t festivals.
"An interactive artistic event called Dev9t, a festival unlike any other in the region, will be held in Belgrade’s Stara Ciglana from June 14th to 22nd. Under the slogan “Keep Creating,” Dev9t will bring together all kinds of artists and free thinkers to create a parallel, creative reality."
"The Festival will also feature several workshops, street art, literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, dance, photography, film and comic books, plus the festival visitors are encouraged to do their own art at the site which will be later exhibited."
Must have a weird shaped girlfriend!
Guess there is no other way to describe this final section, I guess the artists know the meaning of their art, akin to the early 20th C avant-garde movement of artists who ripped up the rule book and delivered a new and fresh approach to art..........
......or maybe the ganja was a bit over powering?
So at this point let's call it a day on part one.
