On October 19, the final program of the European project BioAwaking, was organized in Novi Sad, with an aim to unify the art, science and ecology in one dialogue about sustainability and life.
During the one-day program, the audience had the opportunity to attend lectures, workshops, and a tree planting event.
The program was opened with a series of lectures dedicated to topics that connect biology and art, and continued with workshops that allowed participants to have a direct encounter with microorganisms and natural materials, revealing the hidden layers of life that surround us.
During the day was also presented new artistic productions, created within the framework BioStArt program, designed by the students Mateja Marković (New media) i Milica Rukavina (Biology), exploring the relationships between biological processes, material and artistic expression.
Closing part of the BioAwaking project, conducted within the program Creative Europe, was marked by the symbolic act of planting endangered tree species from the Western Balkans, simultaneously in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Inspired by the concept of the artist Natali Jeremijenko, this symbolic action connects art, science and society through the idea of joint environmental action.
"Planting trees connects participants through a common act of caring for nature. Art in this context acts as a means of raising awareness and empathy towards living systems, turning an ecological gesture into a collective work of art," say the organizers.
The project ended with the documentary which records the key moments of the BioAwaking project - from laboratory research and artist residencies, to joint actions and international cooperation.
The artist Adrienn Újházi, napomenula je da je ideja dvogodišnjeg programa bila uključivanje ljudi u rad sa prirodnom i prirodnim materijalima.
"The message we want visitors to take away is that art and science are allies, in this case preserving life and natural balance. Each of us has a role in shaping a sustainable future, whether through creativity, research or everyday decisions. We want this project and event to inspire reflection, but also concrete actions in the community," said Újházi.
BioAwaking project was created in cooperation between the organizations ReAktor (Serbia), UR Institute (Croatia), Kersnikova (Slovenia) and the Center for the Promotion of Science (Serbia), and during two years it produced a series of workshops, laboratory experiments and artistic productions throughout Europe.
"Art and science are allies in preserving life and natural balance. Each of us has a role to play in shaping a sustainable future - through creativity, research or everyday decisions," the organizers stated.
Although the project is formally coming to an end, the ideas and collaborations created through BioAwaking will live on. This project opened space for new connections between artists and scientists in the fields of biotechnology, ecology and education, creating the foundations for future collaborative learning laboratories and international networks of bioart initiatives.