Second International Conference of the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade
SmartArt – “Art and Science Applied: Experience and Vision”
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade, 23–25 September 2021
The second international conference of the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, SmartArt 2021 – Art and Science Applied: “Experience and Vision” was held from 23 to 25 September 2021. The main idea behind the conference is to provide an international forum for the exchange of experiences and visions originating in the mutual connection and interaction of applied art and science, which in modern times is becoming more intense and opens new paths of artistic and scientific development. The conference attracted the attention of domestic and foreign public, and despite the difficult conditions caused by the pandemic, 126 authors from 13 countries participated in the conference.
The introduction to the Conference was the SmartArt exhibition, held at the N.O. Concept Gallery, from September 10 to 23. The curator of the exhibition was art historian Milica Perić, and the artworks were selected on the basis of the received proposals of teachers and associates of the Faculty of Applied Arts. The Art Committee of the Еxhibition participated in the selection of artworks. All the artworks in the exhibition show the symbiosis of art, design, science and technology in their own way. The aim of the exhibition was to provide space, context and support for the visibility of research and innovative practices of young authors, so the participants were mostly students or alumni of the Faculty of Applied Arts, who completed the exhibited works and projects within undergraduate, master or doctoral studies.
Academician Milan Lojanica pointed out the multiple unbreakable links between applied art and science in his speech at the opening ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the conference of the Faculty of Applied Arts, which was supported by SASA and the patronage of the SASA Art Department. Addressing the audience, Academician Lojanica pointed out that the current name of the Department of Fine Arts and Music has been changed in accordance with the growing awareness of the importance of applied art, which is significantly contributed by FAA and SmartArt conference, and after its long perseverance expanded its composition to artists from these once border areas of art. Prof. Miloš Ilić, Vice Dean for International Relations at FAA, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Milan Prosen, President of the Organizing Committee of the conference, addressed the audience on behalf of FAA, emphasizing the complexity of creative links of the latest scientific research and contemporary art practice, as well as the need to study and protect heritage in the field of applied arts, which was reflected in the complex program of the conference.
Keynote speeches were given by eminent scientists prof. Dr. Rudolf Klein (Budapest) and prof. Dr. Stefano Ridolfi (Rome), as well as the celebrated designer and alumni of the Faculty of Applied Arts Sava Čvek (Boston).
Conference participants presented their papers within eight thematic fields: History and Theory of Applied Arts, Protection of Cultural Heritage, Applied Art and Digital Technologies, Applied Geometry in Arts, New Materials and Technologies in Applied Arts and Design, Spatial Configuration and Contextual Aspects in Design, Terminological Challenges in Applied Arts, and Educational Aspects of Applied Arts. They presented the results of their research at parallel sessions held on September 23 and 24. For participants who were not able to attend the conference in person, a system of direct online inclusion and presentation was provided. For the opening of the conference and plenary speeches, a simultaneous translation was provided with the support of a professor of the Faculty of Philology.
On the second day of the conference, in the afternoon, a sightseeing tour of Belgrade was organized for the participants, and the end of the conference was marked by an expert excursion to the Manasija Monastery and the Royal Mausoleum in Oplenac, which enabled foreign participants to get acquainted with our national cultural and artistic heritage.
Recognizing an innovative and qualitative contribution to the development and affirmation of science and art in a complex program of events, the manifestation SmartArt 2021 – Art and Science Applied: “Experience and Vision” was supported by: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, N.O. Concept Gallery, Embassy of the Republic of France in Serbia, Italian Cultural Institute, Embassy of Hungary in Serbia, Cultural Center of Belgrade, Museum of Contemporary Art, and University Library “Svetozar Marković”. The patron of the Second Conference of the Faculty of Applied Arts was the SASA Art Department.
The members of the international Scientific and Artistic and Professional Committees contributed to the conference with their scientific, professional and artistic credibility, and its initiative and realization was brought about by the members of the Organizing Committee with their dedicated work.
