Mine – Yours 1974

Editor: Mladen Stilinovic’s “Mine – Yours,” made in 1974 using ink and collage on paper. It's a very stark, simple composition with just two words separated by a line. The contrast is interesting...what do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a primal division, marked not only by the red line physically cutting the surface, but also within the symbolic language itself. Consider, what cultural memories or ideologies do the very concepts of “mine” and “yours” evoke? Editor: Well, it makes me think about ownership and boundaries…especially because the words are in different languages; is that Serbian? It’s almost like the line is a border. Curator: Exactly! The words "moje" and "tvoje," indeed Serbian for “mine” and “yours,” point to cultural identity, possession, and perhaps even conflict. How does the minimalist style enhance this symbolic weight, in your opinion? Editor: Because it’s so stripped down, the message becomes unavoidable. The rawness of the ink and paper and the childlike handwriting makes it feel more immediate, less abstract. Curator: Precisely. Think about it: despite its simplicity, "Mine - Yours" vibrates with centuries of inherited meaning embedded within language and geopolitical realities, reflecting human tendencies of cultural association. Do you see those themes mirrored in art from our time? Editor: I do. It makes you question assumptions you don’t even realize you hold. I'm glad I looked closer. Curator: Indeed, revealing how deeply symbols resonate across history allows us to see the unseen forces that shape our perceptions today.