Elegy for Ramno tries to reflect on the relation between horizontal organization proposed as a theoretical concept and its practical manifestations. Trough this piece is noted that this relation might be quite fictional and inapplicable, because the theory is often idealized in its form, and the factual situations are far from ideal. The discrepancy between theoretical and practical equality we decided to name “horizontal monarchy”. And while criticizing the “world” for promoting inequality, us, participants in the contemporary artistic and cultural scene are quietly living our “horizontal monarchy”, possibly even sensing that there might be something wrong with the way we practice horizontality. We are wondering if performing art these days mines its own fundament by not practicing what it preaches? Does flat really exist?
Elegy for Ramno was first shown in April 2013 at Mladinski Kulturen Centar (MKC), Skopje, Macedoina.
Ramno (in English: adj.“flat”) is a village in the north-eastern part of Macedonia, with a total population of 21 inhabitants (as of 2002). It has been forgotten by the Macedonian authorities until recently, when a stone plate was found in the area with the engraved Latin phrase - Primus inter pares (“The first among equals”). This expression was popular during the Roman Empire, used to imply that people were equal. Although, they obviously were not, compared to someone in more power, for example an emperor or religious leader, who was of more importance.
Being part of the contemporary artistic and cultural scene and community, criticizing the “world” for promoting inequality, we couldn't avoid sensing that there might be something wrong with the way we ourselfs practice horizontality. Isn’t this unspoken hierarchy similar to what is happening in front of our eyes, hidden underneath the “horizontal organisation” which is commonly stated?
Triggered by the event in Ramno as well as our self-reflected analysis, we decided to develop a performance trough which we, once and for all, could face and question the well-promoted horizontal organization. Isn’t the horizontality applied actually creating an ideal environment for mobbing and passive aggression among collaborators?
Co-authors: Rebecca Chentinell (Sweden), Ephemerki (Dragana Zarevska & Jasna Dimitrovska, Macedonia), Darko Aleksovski (Macedonia)
The project is a co-production between Lokomotiva and Rebecca Chentinell Company, and is realized as a part of the co-productions program within Jardin d' Europe. Elegy for Ramno is supported by the EU Culture Program (2007-2013), The Swedish Arts Grant Committee, Swedish Arts Council and the Ministry for Culture of Macedonia. The project is realized within Lokomotiva's annual program, supported by CIVICA Mobilitas - implemented by CIR and financially supported by SDC.
Elegy for Ramno was first shown in April 2013 at Mladinski Kulturen Centar (MKC), Skopje, Macedoina.
Ramno (in English: adj.“flat”) is a village in the north-eastern part of Macedonia, with a total population of 21 inhabitants (as of 2002). It has been forgotten by the Macedonian authorities until recently, when a stone plate was found in the area with the engraved Latin phrase - Primus inter pares (“The first among equals”). This expression was popular during the Roman Empire, used to imply that people were equal. Although, they obviously were not, compared to someone in more power, for example an emperor or religious leader, who was of more importance.
Being part of the contemporary artistic and cultural scene and community, criticizing the “world” for promoting inequality, we couldn't avoid sensing that there might be something wrong with the way we ourselfs practice horizontality. Isn’t this unspoken hierarchy similar to what is happening in front of our eyes, hidden underneath the “horizontal organisation” which is commonly stated?
Triggered by the event in Ramno as well as our self-reflected analysis, we decided to develop a performance trough which we, once and for all, could face and question the well-promoted horizontal organization. Isn’t the horizontality applied actually creating an ideal environment for mobbing and passive aggression among collaborators?
Co-authors: Rebecca Chentinell (Sweden), Ephemerki (Dragana Zarevska & Jasna Dimitrovska, Macedonia), Darko Aleksovski (Macedonia)
The project is a co-production between Lokomotiva and Rebecca Chentinell Company, and is realized as a part of the co-productions program within Jardin d' Europe. Elegy for Ramno is supported by the EU Culture Program (2007-2013), The Swedish Arts Grant Committee, Swedish Arts Council and the Ministry for Culture of Macedonia. The project is realized within Lokomotiva's annual program, supported by CIVICA Mobilitas - implemented by CIR and financially supported by SDC.