NE JA / NOT I BEGINS WHERE THE I BECOMES UNCERTAIN.
WE ARE TOLD WHO WE ARE BEFORE WE HAVE LEARNED HOW TO ASK.
WHAT IF THE BODY DOES NOT HAVE TO REPRESENT? WHAT IF THE VOICE DOES NOT HAVE TO BELONG?WHAT IF MOVEMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO EXPRESS? WHAT IF SOUND DOES NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN? WHAT IF PRESENCE IS ENOUGH?
BETWEEN FREEDOM AND THE CONDITIONS THAT DEFINE IT.
BETWEEN CHOICE AND THE INVISIBLE SYSTEMS
THAT TEACH US WHAT TO CHOOSE.
BECAUSE THE QUESTION IS NOT ONLY: WHO AM I?
THE QUESTION IS: WHO HAVE I BEEN EXPECTED TO BECOME?
YOU ARE NOT OUTSIDE THIS WORK. YOU COMPLETE THIS SPACE.
HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE CALL “MYSELF” WAS EVER MINE TO BEGIN WITH?
NE JA / NOT I IS NOT ABOUT LOSING IDENTITY.
IT IS ABOUT INTERRUPTING IT.
JUST LONG ENOUGH
TO SEE HOW IT WAS MADE.
AND PERHAPS -
JUST LONG ENOUGH
TO ASK WHETHER IT CAN BE MADE DIFFERENTLY.
IN A TIME WHEN IDENTITY IS INCREASINGLY SHAPED BY SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS, CULTURAL NORMS, ECONOMIC STRUCTURES, DIGITAL REPRESENTATION, AND THE PRESSURE TO CONSTANTLY CONSTRUCT A BETTER VERSION OF OURSELVES, NE JA / NOT I CREATES A TEMPORARY SPACE OF REFUSAL.
MARIJA MITROVIĆ ČEDO ČIZMOVIĆ JOVANA BRNOVIĆ
ART DIRECTOR, COMPOSER VIDEOGRAPHER PERFORMER, MOVEMENT ARTIST
MATIJA MITROVIĆ ANDRIESH GANDRABUR
SCENOGRAPHER AND LIGHTING DESIGNER SOUND DESIGNER
NE_JA_NOT_I/RTCG.ME