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The third edition of the exhibition "National Space Program" opened on June 20, 2024, in Pljevlja, as part of the 38th edition of the Humor and Satire Festival "Vuko Bezarević." We are grateful to Aleksandar Ostojić and the "Vitomir Srbljanović" Gallery for the opportunity to present our work to the Pljevlja audience for the first time, in an exceptional venue that houses the rich archives of the Yugoslav Museum of Humor and Satire. We consider this to be the best edition of the exhibition so far, thanks to the space and the way the works were displayed — including video pieces, fragments of the fanzine drawn directly on the walls, as well as patterns and visual "noise," for which we had more room than ever before. A video from the opening can be viewed at this link.

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FLUID Expo / Ilustress Collective: NATIONAL SPACE PROGRAM

Our exhibition “National Space Program” was presented as part of the 12th edition of the FLUID Design Forum. While FLUID took place across multiple venues, our show was hosted at the Cultural Center of the Old Royal Capital Cetinje, opening on April 19, 2024, and running until May 8, 2024. The exhibition centers on our eponymous fanzine, which is the third title we have produced as a collective.

The first version of this exhibition was organized on October 27, 2023, at the Gallery of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro in Podgorica.

When working on this edition, we set the main theme in advance, but without enforcing a single concept or narrative to connect all the works. This open approach allowed each of us to respond in our own way — from more classical forms of illustration, comics, and caricature to experimental graphics, video, and animation that step beyond traditional illustration.

The fanzine and accompanying graphics were printed by the Matrijaršija collective from Belgrade, whose collaboration we deeply value.

We are grateful to the FLUID Design Forum, FLUX Design Network, and the Old Royal Capital Cetinje for giving us the opportunity to present this exhibition. Photos: Krsto Vulović

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One of the video works — animations created by Denis Ćupić for our exhibition “National Space Program.” We see these loops as being directly connected to the abstract glitch segments of our fanzine, as well as to the exhibition sections filled with this kind of visual “noise.” These forms have been a subject of Denis’s research and were prominently featured in his solo exhibition at the Street Gallery in Belgrade during the summer of 2023, presented there in a static, poster-like form.

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From the photo archive: snapshots from our not-so-frequent gatherings in Montenegro during 2021 and 2022 — whether from expeditions along the Morača River, meetings where we at least tried to establish an NGO (something we still haven’t managed), or get-togethers to celebrate the release of one of our previous editions.

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Photos of our third zine “National Space Program.” 

The theme of the fanzine arose during discussions about launching a national space program in Montenegro.

In contrast to the formal tone of the title (which evokes a manual, plan, or blueprint), the visual content is organized in a fragmented way that invites multiple modes of viewing, reading, and interpretation. This collage-like document forms a true collection of stories, ranging from fantastical imaginings of parallel worlds, fictional reports of a space expedition, and possible visions of the future drawn from references to the past, to diagrams reminiscent of solar wind movement charts.

Despite its cosmic themes, the work is not entirely escapist: clear references to socio-political conditions in Montenegro and the local context serve as one of the starting points for exploring this subject.

The reader encounters abstract landscapes, collages, textures, fragments of a non-existent comic, silent cosmic conquests, and diagrams of the paths of light, sound, and radiation.

This zine was riso-printed, with screen-printed covers, produced at the Matrijaršija collective / Novi obrt studio in Belgrade, in October 2023. The interior is printed in four colors: fluorescent pink, yellow, blue, and black. The covers are printed in white ink on black paper. It was produced in a limited edition of 150 copies, but it has already become quite rare — as a collective, we no longer have any copies available for sale.

The contributors, in the order they appear in the zine, are: Denis Ćupić, followed by Ivana Vujošević, then Jovana Mugoša, another work by Denis Ćupić, then Sara Kovačević, the chapter Zvezdana Prašina (Stardust) by Denis Ćupić, and finally the works of Srđa Dragović.

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Browsing through the third fanzine by the Ilustress collective, titled “National Space Program”, presented at the exhibition in the Gallery of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro, alongside graphics printed using risography and screen printing, as well as animations.

We are grateful to the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro for this opportunity, to curator Teodora Nikčević for her dedicated work, patience, and support, and we owe special thanks to the Matrijaršija collective / Novi obrt studio from Belgrade, who are responsible for printing this book and the accompanying graphics.

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Photographs of the exhibition “National Space Program” at the Gallery of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro in Podgorica. The unique character of the gallery space (formerly home to the Lexicographic Institute, designed by architect Svetlana Kana Radević) shaped the exhibition layout, where test riso prints were given equal importance, along with the repetition of prints to create a certain visual noise. This “noise” functions either as an independent spatial intervention or as a backdrop for specific works or groups of works. The venue spans two levels, with the upper level featuring a reading table dedicated to the zine that serves as the central work of the exhibition — the same one that gave the exhibition its name — along with our two previous zine editions.

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Our first exhibition in Montenegro, “National Space Program,” opened on October 27, 2023, at the Gallery of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Podgorica. The exhibition is titled after our third fanzine, which is also the central work of this show. The fanzine is accompanied by graphics printed using risography and screen printing, and we are immensely grateful to the Matrijaršija collective for their support in the realization of both the fanzine and the graphics. For this occasion, a short publication was also produced, featuring an interview with us conducted by Teodora Nikčević, the exhibition curator. Visitors also had the opportunity to browse through our previous two fanzines. The exhibition was enriched by video works by Denis Ćupić, which were also created for this event. We would like to thank the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro for the invitation, as well as for co-financing the production of this publication and exhibition.

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Our second riso zine: "LIFE, LOVE, DEATH, THE VOID AND WIND" Published in August 2022 · 3-color risograph (Green + Yellow + Fluorescent Pink) · Edition of 120 Printed by Sleep On It Press, Athens, Greece ❤️

Cover design by: Sara Kovačević Works by (in order of appearance): Jovana Mugoša / Radovan Vukasović / Denis Ćupić / Sara Kovačević / Srđa Dragović

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Our first riso zine, published in February 2022. "Starter Kit: Stress Management Theory in Face of a Gaping Abyss Which Doubles as a Cozy Cottage". A5 format · 3-color risograph · 16 pages Printed with love by Matrijaršija, Belgrade ❤️

Featuring works by (in order of appearance): Sara Kovačević / Radovan Vukasović / Srđa Dragović / Jovana Mugoša / Denis Ćupić

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Hard Ground 2 Denis Ćupić for Ilustress December 2021

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Hard Ground

Denis Ćupić for Ilustress

December 2021

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Radovan Vukasović and Srđa Dragović, representing the Ilustress collective, were guests on Radio Aparat in the final episode of the summer season of the show Sceniranje (2021). The occasion for their appearance was the Ilustress collective's exhibition at the Street Gallery (Ulična galerija) in Belgrade. Ivana Bogićević Leko, from the collective “Jednostavno rečeno” (Simply Put) was also with them. Thank you to Jovana Lutovac, thank you to Jelena Mijić, and thanks as well to Nemanja Bošković and Miloš Janjić. 🙂 You can listen to this episode of Sceniranje via the following link: https://www.mixcloud.com/Sceniranje/173-letnji-specijal-ilustress-jednostavno-re%C4%8Deno-jelina-posla/

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On June 25, at Ulična galerija in Belgrade, we opened our first group exhibition — Ilustress. The show brought together works created throughout 2020 and 2021, during a time when our collective was forming and growing, mostly online. It served as both a retrospective and an introduction — a chance to present our individual voices, shaped by shared themes like “Odozgo nagore” and “New Normal,” as well as sketches and process work outside any frame. Since in-person sessions weren’t an option, most of our collaboration happened through screens and Google Meet calls. This exhibition became more than a collection of illustrations — it became a visual diary of how we worked, connected, and created together in isolation. Big thanks to everyone who came, and to Opasne milenijalke (Goca & Ljilja soynd sustem) for the sound support. More details at the link below: https://www.ulicnagalerija.rs/izlozba/otvaranje-izlozbe-kolektiva-ilustress/

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Radovan Vukasović for Ilustress:

DISSIPATIVE SYSTEM

"A dissipative system is a thermodynamically open system which is operating out of, and often far from, thermodynamic equilibrium in an environment with which it exchanges energy and matter."

Comic, digital drawing

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Denis Ćupić: REVOLT

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Denis Ćupić: REVOLT