INTERNATIONAL PROFILE STREET PAPERS AS INSPIRATION FOR MODERN TEXTILE ART STORY BY ANJA MIHIC LICEULICE VENDORS RECENTLY had the opportunity to try their hand at embroidery by applying a traditional technique to create a completely atypical artistic product – the Liceulice textile magazine. It is a part of the participatory project Textile Newspapers with artist Milica Dukic, who designed and ran the workshops, as well as with some of the vendors who made a textile version of Liceulice. Textile Newspapers was created with the idea of comparing the quantity and quality of visual information that we receive when browsing printed media, from serious papers to tabloids. The main feature of the project is its inclusivity, since each of the workshops held so far has involved people from marginalized groups. The workshops are an opportunity for participants to try out more experimental, non-traditional embroidery techniques, while their main purpose is to create a space and atmosphere of support, open conversation, exchange of experiences, and new acquaintances. “Until now, we worked on the theme of daily newspapers, which are a fast and consumable medium that we translated into textile art in an extremely slow way,” says Milica Dukić, who has collaborated many times with people from marginalized groups and organized various types of occupational therapy workshops throughout her career. “Through the embroidery technique, we approach newspaper content differently, and at the same time, during the embroidery workshop, we talk about the topics that newspapers cover. “The Liceulice magazine is something truly special. Both its content and the topics it deals with are quite different from what we usually find in the press. This was also a nice opportunity to point out to visitors the existence of the magazine, but also the importance of supporting it by buying it.” For several months, contemporary artists and Liceulice vendors met once per week at the contemporary embroidery workshops. “I already knew how to embroider, but I really like it here. It is calming. I would love for us to be able to do this longer. The company suits me, the peace suits me,” says vendor Gordana Milenković. Her colleague Nikola Repec adds that “embroidery is not boring at all,” contrary to what he had thought before trying it. “We learned some things for beginners. We will continue to learn and work. We spend time together here. It is nice.” Vendor Vesna Avramović says that she is pleased to be in the workshop. “I met new people and exchanged PHOTOS BY ANJA MIHIC contacts with them. We joke and do something creative and relaxing. That good energy encourages us to really give our maximum.” Korana Štrbac from the association Kalina, which once organised similar embroidery workshops, also came to the workshops. “We worked with war victims, since our organisation deals with women who have gone through some war experiences. I came here to share knowledge and embroider together.” As Dukić explains, these workshops point to broader social problems, such as the non-inclusivity of daily newspapers and mass culture in general, but also to the contribution of contemporary art in developing the creativity of people from marginalized groups. The textile newspapers created in this way are inclusive not only because different people participate in their creation, but also because they are tactile and can be freely touched and browsed, and are therefore adapted for blind and visually impaired people. The workshops were organized within the framework of the October Salon, the international biennial exhibition of contemporary art in Belgrade. Translated from Serbian Courtesy of Liceulice / INSP.ngo 12 DENVER VOICE October 2025
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