Montažstroj
Montažstroj, also stylized as MONTAZSTROJ, is a Croatian art collective that creates artworks in the fields of theatre, dance, music, visual, and audio-visual arts.
Montažstroj is a Croatian neologism derived from the words "montage" (Croatian: montaža) and "machine" (Croatian: mašina). According to the collective, "montage" represents ideas of fusion , film/video editing, and assembly line work and "machine" refers to early 20th-century futuristic ideals of order and discipline.[1]
The art collective was founded by artistic director Borut Šeparović in 1989.[2] In 1994, the collective toured the United States and Europe. Montažstroj remains active as of 2025.
Early projects
For the first seven years after its creation, Montažstroj's work mainly focused on the theatrical representation of football and pop culture, producing several performances, installations, videos, and choreographic works. The lived experience of real socialism, along with changes occurring in post-communist Croatia, and the war in former Yugoslavia have all influenced and defined Montažstroj's art. Montažstroj's first professional production, "VATROTEHNA" (fiery techno), was performed in 1990 in an abandoned area of the old Badel distillery. "RAP OPERA 101" was an adaptation of ancient myths in the context of global satellite programs and local war. In 1991, their music video "CROATIA IN FLAME" (Croatian: Hrvatska u plamenu) was created as a direct artistic effort to help their homeland. The collective continued with interpretations of post‐communist transitional myths.
The "Performing Unit" group
In 1997, Montažstroj began pursuing its long‐term goal of building an international company with a strong artistic identity not bound by a particular culture. Operating predominantly in the Netherlands under the name Performing Unit, the group focused on an individual's position and identity, highlighting the performers as the main component of the production. During this period they produced works such as "TERRIBLE FISH" (Croatian: strašna riba), based on Sylvia Plath’s poetry, "WHO IS WOYZECK?", based on Büchner's canonical text Western Theater, and "THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE DEAD" (Croatian: enciklopedija mrtvih), based on a story by Danilo Kiš.
Interdisciplinary projects
Montažstroj's projects "T‐FORMANCE", "T‐FAKTOR", and "THIS IS THE THEATER YOU DESERVE" (Croatian: ovo je pozorište koje zaslužujete) were multimedia interactive events that explored terrorism, where emphasis was placed on the use of new media. Montažstroj's 2008 theatrical production "TIMBUKTU" discussed themes of social exclusion, where audience members remotely controlled cars on the stage.
Social engagement
"MY HEART BEATS FOR HER" (Croatian: moje srce kuca za nju) presented in 2010 what seemed to be two unrelated subjects – football and unemployed women. This work was a reconstruction of the Croatian victory over England at the Wembley Stadium, London on November 21, 2007. In 2010, Montažstroj also produced "VATROTEHNA 2.0", which reviewed social changes in Croatia over the previous ten years.
In 2014, Montažstroj presented "LITTLE MAN WANTS TO CROSS THE LINE" (Croatian: mali čovjek želi preći granicu), inspired by the cult Yugoslav new wave album "Paket aranžman".
Montažstroj's 2014 video project "COMMUNISM" (Croatian: komunizam) was broadcast on MTV. The video is a fragment of the multimedia project "WHERE'S THE REVOLUTION, SCUM?" (Croatian: gdje je revolucija, ološu?)
Film
The project "COUNTERATTACK" (Croatian: kontranapad) (2013) tackles the issue of landmines to environmental pollution and the impact of war on society. "COUNTERATTACK" is a project where dancers step into the minefields to see if the danger is still present and lying hidden in the ground. This project highlights the landmine problem using audio-visual and performing arts techniques.
About Borut Šeparović
Borut Šeparović was born in Zagreb, Croatia in 1967. He graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Comparative Literature from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Zagreb. He later graduated with a postgraduate degree from the graduate school at DasArts (Advanced Studies in Performance Arts) in Amsterdam.[3]
Performances
| Year | Title | Group | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | FIRE-TECHNICS | Montazstroj | Based on Prometheus Bound |
| 1991 | RAP OPERA 101 | Montazstroj | Based on Philoktetes, translated by H. Mueller. Co-production with festival Eurokaz, Zagreb |
| 1993 | ENJOY MONTAZSTROJ! | Montazstroj | Dance performance |
| 1994 | EVERYBODY GOES 2 DISCO FROM MOSCOW 2 SAN FRANCISCO | Montazstroj | Dance performance |
| 1995 | DISCO RE-MIX | Montazstroj | Dance performance |
| 1996 | EURO-BODY | Montazstroj | Dance performance |
| 1997 | EXERCISES MOBILE sections + CONVERTIBLE sections (work-in-progress) | Montazstroj | Collaboration with different partners |
| 1999 | FRAGILE | Montazstroj and Performingunit | Dance performance. Co-production with Intercult, B.I.T., Frascati |
| 2000 | DUET | Performingunit | Dance performance |
| 2001 | TRUTH OR DARE? | Performingunit | Co-production with Chasse Theater Breda, Frascati Amsterdam |
| 2001 | TERRIBLE FISH | Performingunit | Performance based on the poem “Three Women” by Sylvia Plath |
| 2002 | WHO IS? WOYZECK | Performingunit | Based on Woyzeck |
| 2004 | ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE DEAD | Montazstroj | Based on the story “Encyclopedia of the Dead” by Danilo Kiš |
| 2007 | T-PERFORMANCE | Montazstroj | Interactive performance. Co-production with Teatar&TD, Zagreb |
| 2007 | THE THEATER YOU DESERVE | Montazstroj | Interactive event. Co-production with Teatar&TD, Zagreb |
| 2008 | TIMBUKTU | Montazstroj | Theatre, participatory project. Co-production with Zagreb Puppet Theatre Travno, Zagreb |
| 2009 | I F*** ON THE FIRST DATE | Montazstroj | Theatre, project on location, participatory project |
| 2009 | ZAGREB BY NIGHT | Montazstroj | Theatre, project on location, action. Co-production with Banana Guerilla, Zagreb |
| 2009 | T-FACTOR | Montazstroj | Theatre, project on location, participatory project. Co-production with Festival Perforacije, Zagreb, Rijeka, Dubrovnik |
| 2010 | MY HEART BEATS FOR HER | Montazstroj | Theatre, dance. Co-production with Tala Dance Center, Zagreb |
| 2010 | FIRE-TECHNICS 2.0 | Montazstroj | Theatre. Co-production with Zagreb Youth Theater, Zagreb, Performance Arts Week Perforacije, Zagreb & Operacija: Grad, Zagreb |
| 2011 | SAMPLE | Montazstroj | Theatre, performance, dance |
| 2012 | 55+ | Montazstroj | Theatre, video project |
| 2013 | THE FUTURE IS NOW | Montazstroj | Theatre, participative project |
| 2014 | THE UPRISING YOUTH | Montazstroj | Theatre, dance. Co-production with Zagreb Centre for independent culture and youth – Pogon, Zagreb, Artistic organization Counterattack, Zagreb |
| 2014 | LMWCL[4] | Montazstroj | Theatrical audio-visual performance |
| 2014 | WHERE'S THE REVOLUTION, SCUM? | Montazstroj | Theatre, audio project, video project |
| 2015 | SUSPENSION OF WORKS | Montazstroj | Theatre, participative project. Zagreb Centre for Independent Culture and Youth - Pogon |
| 2015 | CONTINUATION OF WORKS | Montazstroj | Project on location, participative project. University Hospital in Zagreb |
| 2016 | THE BLACK BOOK | Montazstroj | Theatre performance |
| 2017 | CYANKALI §218 | Montazstroj | Theatre, video project |
| 2017 | LOVE & ECONOMY | Montazstroj | Documentary performance, humanitarian event |
| 2017 | CELEBRATION | Montazstroj | Theatre, video project |
| 2017 | THE ORGANISATION | Montazstroj | Experimental video project |
| 2017 | KRLEЖA, OR WHAT ARE FLAGS TO US AND WHAT ARE WE TO FLAGS THAT WE CRY FOR THEM SO | Montazstroj | Theatre performance based on the life of Miroslav Krleža |
| 2019 | YOUTH WITHOUT GOD | Montazstroj | Theatre performance, video project |
| 2019 | ENCOUNTERS | Montazstroj | Documentary project |
| 2019 | THE ZONE | Montazstroj | Theatrical performance. Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb |
| 2020 | IN FORMATION IN LIQUIDATION | Montazstroj | Multimedia art exhibition |
| 2021 | RADNIČKA CESTA (WORKERS ROAD) | Montazstroj | Online video series, performance |
| 2022 | HE WHO DOES NOT WORK SHALL NOT EAT | Montazstroj | Online video series, interviews |
| 2022 | EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE | Montazstroj | Online video series. Directed by Ana Prolić. |
| 2022 | ALONE TOGETHER | Montazstroj | Online video series, performance |
| 2023 | Tour of the University Hospital in Zagreb.[5] | ||
| 2025 | THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND | Montazstroj | Theatre performance |
Crossover
1989. THE FOOTBALL BOOT IN THE ART GALLERY (action / performance)
1990. ACHTUNG ALARM (action / performance)
1991. CROATIA IN FLAME (video clip)
1991. HOP & RAS, DVA (installation / performance)
1991. ATLETA SRCA vs. BARBAROGENIJE (action)
1992. MONTAZSTROJ LIVE! (music performance / concert)
1995. NO DISTANCE (action / street performance)
2009. THE FOOTBALL BOOT IN THE MUSEUM (action / performance / project on location)
2010. ACHTUNG ALARM! 2.0 (action / performance / project on location)
2010. FIRESTARTER (action / performance / project on location)
2010. B.D.L.2.0 (action / performance / project on location)
2011. CROATIAN CREATION - MONTAZSTROJ CALLS FOR WITNESSES (media project / exhibition)
2013. COUNTERATTACK (video project / dance)
2014. CONSUMED (video project / media project)
2014. SWASTIKA (media project / audio project / video project)
2014. COMMUNISM (media project / audio project / video project)
2014. RABIES (media project / audio project / video project)
References
- ^ "Croatian Neologism". montazstroj. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Kvorka, Tanja (2024-12-25). "Montažstroj obilježio 35 godina i najavio projekt "Slijepi vode slijepe"". Glas Slavonije (in Croatian). Retrieved 2025-03-26.
- ^ "Borut Šeparović – Montažstroj". Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ Mačković, Vesna (March 14, 2014). "Little man wants to cross the line (MONTAЖ$TROJ)". Otchuda.
- ^ "CONTINUATION OF THE "TOUR" PROJECT – SIGN UP FOR FUTURE EVENTS!". November 30, 2023.