Lot Essay
Born in Belgrade in 1947, Mladen Stilinovic was one of the artists of the Grupa Sestorice Autora, an informal formation of six artists in Zagreb (Croatia) who were actively making performances and happenings, criticizing the art institutions for their undemocratic approach to the arts. His work is deeply rooted in daily rituals that reveal the interdependencies between the private and the public sphere. The research of the interactions between visual and verbal signs and the consequently deconstruction of power mechanisms in language are important characteristics of his work which include installations, collages, photographs, artist books, videos and performances. Selected exhibitions include Mladen Stilinovic, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven (2008), The Exploitation of the Dead, Documenta 12, Kassel (2007), Sydney Biennial, Sydney (2006), 46th and 50th Venice Biennial (2003-1995), Chinese Whispers, Apexart, New York (2000). He participated in the Tate Modern program New Video/New Europe in 2004 with the video Potatoes. In 1979 he participated in Works and Words, an international art manifestation organized by de Appel. The artist lives and works in Zagreb.