Simon Uzunovski
born in 1949 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (today N. Macedonia), died in Skopje, North Macedonia in 2018
From the cycle “Notes”, 1976/77
pen on paper
MoCA Skopje
Simon Uzunovski was a central figure in the contemporary art scene in Skopje. Born in Belgrade, he studied architecture in Skopje and immersed himself in art history. His work spans painting, collage, installations, and performances, and he was particularly noted as a pioneer of participatory and conceptual art in the 1970s. A hallmark of his work is the use of simple materials such as adhesive tape or everyday objects, which he transformed into new contexts of meaning. In addition to his work in Skopje, Uzunovski also lived and worked for several years on the Italian island of Capri, where he earned a living as a street painter, selling primarily classic sunsets and similar tourist motifs.
A small-format yet all the more striking work from the MoCA collection also dates from this period. It is a receipt bearing the letterhead of an Italian business. On this unassuming piece of paper, materials are handwritten that appear to be intended for the creation of a painting. At the same time, these very materials—considered in a different context—could also be used to build a bomb. The temporal proximity to the height of the Brigate Rosse, the Italian terrorist organization, also appears noteworthy in this context. As a work in the museum, the shopping list becomes a ready-made. By removing an ordinary object from its original context, the artist forces viewers to question their own interpretations. The note thus becomes a starting point for reflections on responsibility, perception, and the power of information. This tension is typical of Uzunovski’s conceptual practice, which understands art as an open process and consciously seeks the active involvement of the audience.