Work Match Maker

Die Leute in unserem Netzwerk sind zwischen Anfang 20 und Mitte 40, meistens Akademiker die auf dem Weg sind mehr Sinnhaftigkeit in dem was sie tun, zu finden. Klar, das Geld spielt eine sehr wichtige Rolle aber auch vereint mit klarer Substanz.

                                                                                                                                                                                  Galina Bankova

Galina ist ein Gamechanger. Vor mehreren Jahren traf ich sie auf dem Vortrag von Publisher von „Enorm“ wo sie ein Mitglied der Organisationsteams des Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship diese Rede in die Wege geleitet hat. Damals erzählte ich ihr von meiner Idee ein Magazin zu gestalten, traute mich aber nicht den vom Publikum umzingelten Redner, nach seinem Vortrag anzusprechen und nach seiner Meinung zu fragen. Beim Getränke holen erzählte ich ihr, etwas schüchtern von dem Vorhaben. Da hat sie mich doch sehr schnell überzeugt, zum Redner vorzugehen und mich zu trauen. Dieser Moment war eine sehr einprägsame Erfahrung.

Paar Jahre später ist dieser von Fachkompetenz aber scharfsinnigen Feingefühl begabter Mensch selbständig mit Coaching und Veranstaltungen „DO WORK YOU LOVE“. Das klingt romantisch aber wer das so allein wahrnimmt unterschätzt Galina. Nach einem BWL Studium und Erfahrung im Veranstaltungsmanagement, Startup Verwirklichung und Unternehmensberatung hat sie erkannt wie wichtig es doch es doch etwas ist was im modernen Westeuropa doch so strukturiert geworden ist, die zwischenmenschliche Begegnung. Aus einem kleinem Dorf in Bulgarien namens Dorkovo stammend kommt sie 2004 wegen dem Studium nach München und schafft es, Vorzüge der beiden Kulturen, West und Osteuropa gekonnt in die Arbeitswelt einfließen zu lassen.

 

Was macht „Do work you love“?

 

Einfach gesprochen, helfen wir Menschen einen Job zu finden der zu Ihnen passt in dem wir Klarheit gewinnen und sie miteinander vernetzten. Wir arbeiten auch mit Best Practise Beispielen und organisieren Vorträge und Events. Es ist eine Plattform die Online und Offline Menschen vernetzt.

 

Also geht es nicht mehr darum mehr Karriere oder Geld, sondern mehr Lebensbalance?

Ist das „Do work you love“ Philosophie?

 

Die Leute in unserem Netzwerk sind zwischen Anfang 20 und Mitte 40, meistens Akademiker die auf dem Weg sind mehr Sinnhaftigkeit in dem was sie tun, zu finden. Klar, das Geld spielt eine sehr wichtige Rolle aber auch vereint mit klarer Substanz.

 

Wie hat es angefangen?

 

Es gab mehrere Situationen und Faktoren die dazu geführt haben. So wirklich hat es angefangen in meiner Kindheit weil ich aufgewachsen bin in einem kleinen Dorf in Bulgarien wo es ganz normal war einfach auf die Piazza zu gehen und sich mit den Leuten auszutauschen. Es war normal Freunde spontan zu besuchen, im Alltag sich offen und frequent zu sozialisieren. Im laufe der Jahre ist es immer seltener geworden, dieser Art von dynamischen Kommunikation zu üben, auch in der Geschäftswelt. Vor allem in dem Berufsleben ist es mir in den letzten Jahren aufgefallen das es an Vernetzung der Menschen fehlt. Denn schon vor 10 Jahren fing ich an mich mit Veranstaltungsmanagement zu beschäftigen und in meiner Erfahrung merkte ich welche immense positive Auswirkungen es hat, verschiedenartige Menschen zusammen zu bringen.

 

in der Geschäftswelt. Vor allem in dem Berufsleben ist es mir in den letzten Jahren aufgefallen das es an Vernetzung der Menschen fehlt. Denn schon vor 10 Jahren fing ich an mich mit Veranstaltungsmanagement zu beschäftigen und in meiner Erfahrung merkte ich welche immense positive Auswirkungen es hat, verschiedenartige Menschen zusammen zu bringen.

 

Wie ging deine berufliche Laufbahn davor?

 

Ich habe BWL studiert mit Schwerpunkt Hotellerie und Eventmanagement. Schon zu Studienzeiten dürfte ich arbeiten und Erfahrung sammeln aus dem Bereich. Dabei arbeitete ich für große Konzerne und habe sehr viel gelernt und merkte schnell in welchen Bereichen meine Stärken liegen. Das waren große Namen wie Infineon, Siemens, Allianz oder auch einige kleinere Hotels. Für meine persönliche und berufliche Weiterentwicklung war ein Seminar in Geschäftsmodellen Entwicklung 2009, als damals noch Studentin. Dabei entdeckte ich den Impact wenn fremde Menschen zusammenkommen und etwas neues Entsteht etwas mit Wirkung, und was ich gerne ermöglichen möchte. Seit dem bin ich in der Welt von Innovation, Geschäftsmodellen Entwicklung und Startups Unterwegs. Für das Strascheg Center habe ich 4 Jahre gearbeitet und dabei Menschen unterstützt dass sie das gründen verwirklichen. Während dieser Tätigkeit beim SCE habe ich eine Coaching Ausbildung angeschlossen und auch als Hobby„Toastmasters“* Kompetenzen ausgefeilt. Danach arbeitete ich bei einer Unternehmensberatung, merkte aber nach einer Gewissen Zeit, das ich bereit bin, mich selbständig zu machen.

 

Seit wann bist du selbständig?

 

Seit Sommer 2015 mache ich jetzt „Do Work You Love“ und konnte Vernissagen bzw Veranstaltungen zum mit Rednern auf der Bühne zum Themen wie Women in Tech, Digitale Produkte, Sport and Nutrition, Customer Experience veranstalten.

Zusätzlich organisiere ich 2 im Monat, Montags „Do Work You Love“ Breakfasts und gebe zusätzlich Workshops und Coachings. In diesen 2 Jahren erlebte ich mit, wie waren es über hunderte von Menschen die Impulse, Kontakte und Inhalte mitbekommen und ausgetauscht haben.

 

 

Prägt dich noch deine Herkunft?

 

Eine sehr osteuropäische Seite von mir die ich gerne mag und für welche ich auch positives Feedback bekomme ist der Spaß am Gastgeber sein. Auf Menschen zugehen fällt mir leicht und spielerisch Anknüpfungspunkte finden. Diese nicht zu unterschätzende Softskills bringe ich ein auch in die Arbeit ein. Aktuell darf ich bei der „Bit und Pretzels“ den Austausch ankurbeln. Das ist das größte digitale Startup Festival in Deutschland, welche auf dem Oktoberfest stattfindet und seit 5 Jahren erfolgreich existiert und sich ausweitet. Allerdings hat sich herausgestellt dass es zum Thema Networking Verbesserungspotential gibt und da komme ich ins Spiel und darf zum Thema geschäftliches „Match Making“ mitmischen. Das ganze ist aber auch strategisch überlegt und wird Menschen ,Themen- und Problemspezifisch verbinden. Zwar hat es den gegenseitigen Austausch und Hilfestellung zum Ziel, dennoch die Leichtigkeit eines Volksfestes. Statt es allein nüchtern und technisch zu lösen, werde ich das Networking auf diesen Startup Festival auf eine persönliche, mehr osteuropäische Art ankurbeln. Mir ist es wichtig, dass außer der der so oft in der Vordergrund tretenden Fachkompetenz, ein Mensch auf einen Menschen trifft.

 

 

 

Hat es dich verändert, die Selbständigkeit?

Du hast eine lange Reise...

 

In den letzten 2 Jahren fühle ich mich immer mehr ich selbst, und kann Dinge umsetzen wie ich sie für richtig halte. Denn ich würde mich als Visionär Bezeichnen bin aber gleichzeitig auch einen sehr pragmatischer und praktisch denkenden Mensch. Die mühsam gewonnene Vorerfahrung hilft eine schnellere Umsetzung von Gedanken in konkretes.Aber jetzt fühle wie ich stärker hinter dem eingeschlagenen Weg gehe und habe die Erfahrung und Weitsicht die extra Meile zu gehen. *Toastmasters: Eine Organisation bei welcher mein seine Rhetorik und Leadership Kompetenzen ausbauen kann.

 

*Link:

http://www.munich-toastmasters.de

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sasa Masks

 
“Every country I lived in changed my perception from the top down and vice versa, that’s for sure”
— Sasa

 

                                                                                                                                                     

 

Sasa, you lived in lotz of different places .. how do you define your homeland or what is currently your home?

I think its one of those 'home is where the heart is', clichés, but it really is that. I often defined home as a place where my mom was, a sense of belonging was the bond, and I think it is bond for many, parent child connection. Now, since she is gone, home is here and there, and everywhere. Hard to pinpoint especially since I travel a lot and go through motions, from city to city. Last week I was in Bajina Basta in Serbia and was taken by how beautiful it is, so I kept saying to my friends, this is my home today. At the moment home is in Banja Luka (Bosnia) via Malmo (Sweden). I got family in one and creative partner family in another.

“Every country I lived in changed my perception from the top down and vice versa, that’s for sure”
— Sasa

 

Which countries and culture have intensely influenced your work?

Hard to pinpoint, because every country I lived in added a layer to my work. Sarajevo where I am from is one of those large than life places, where east meets west, where religions and customs are intertwined into a confusing maze. Sarajevo gave me the complexity of the turbulent war and shit storm former Yugoslavia went through and my growing up on the streets, free. Furthermore Sarajevo is very cynical city, jokes are delivered hourly, sense of desperation is turned into laughing matter, which can be seen in lot of my work and my social media posts. I tend to play with words and images, serving layers my style and social commentary in I hope different way.

 

However my life in Canada was gentle sailing, work in a music shop, my college years and creative direction at design studio, amazing people gave me a sense of responsibility and also friendly approach all Canadians are know for. I worked really hard in Calgary where I lived for over nine years, building my sense of self especially through my four years at Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD), where I had freedom to delve into many aspects of art. I worked with ceramics, wood, plastic, paper, paint, acrylic resin, photo developing. Sadly, my generation was the last to learn photo film development at ACAD.

 

Since I lived in Japan as well, must say that Japan was step up in terms of my intention to be more productive. I found myself in a supremely small apartment words can't describe how small it was compared to my life in Canada and the amount of space I had in Calgary. This pushed me to create small in scale work but still be involved in the process, which is how my hand painted original t-shirts and apparel came about, and ten years later I have gallery representing my illustrations beautifully reproduced on apparel at Ladeclothing. Also the masks were the project where I could involve other people without needing too much space and my first series was all shot at my apartment against the while wall, next to the window, which was 100cm from the models, also masks gave me the mobility I needed to create anywhere I wanted. I just needed paper, scissors, model and camera to photograph it all.

 

Last but not least is Belgrade, nestled between Danube and Sava rivers Belgrade introduced me to triple threat as I like to call them, 3M photographers, Maja, Milica and Mina with whom I collaborated on more then one occasion. With them I actually stepped into stronger production mode, delivering higher resolution images and conceptually more rounded work. I am so grateful to have this time in Belgrade of three years, where I met some amazing people with whom I wouldn't have been where I am now.

My latest creative home is in Malmö where in 2015 I was part of the residency program at STPLN makers space, particularly återSKAPA creative reuse education center with whom I am working on a number of project, one of them being OTIH, fun way for kids to construct architectural chaos around themselves and this is project we have been working on for almost two years now and hope it will be out this summer in full swing.

 

How was is it in Japan? Did it changed you?

“Japan was a different ball game from everything I expected,”
— Sasa

Japan was a different ball game from everything I expected, something I often say when talking about Japan. Most people have romantic idea, which is perfectly valid, I had the same idea, about the life, people in general and cultural richness which to this day japan in many ways is unsurpassed. I believe being an island country they were able to bring a lot of influences from China and apply their spin and retain the quality throughout centuries. Not to say that other countries are not as rich, simply Japan has the 'weird' element of abstraction that other nations might not have. In that sense Japan has influenced me to see mundane and bizarre as unique. I can see that with my masks here in Bosnia, where last week I was shooting a friend and two young men were walking by showing disgust at her face and the mask she was wearing. They were repulsed by it, one of them was christening himself as if to protect himself from the devil girl with a mask. Something I wouldn't expect in Japan, especially with young people who are open to new and different. In that sense Japan was a great stepping stone in my evolution.

 

How did you camed to the idea for the "Sasa Masks"?

In Tokyo I was working for 7 For All Mankind, project was to dress their shop windows which I did, using gazillion paper constructs. Once the project was finished I brought home all of that paper and the idea was born with Yuki posing covered in papers.

 

“Time will tell.”
— Sasa

 

Do you think you influence Banja Luka with your work on the environment?

Time will tell.

Were there moments abroad that reminded you

Every country I lived in changed my perception from the top down and vice versa, that's for sure. As I have said in the previous answer, we all bring our projections along, depending on how much we want to see and be seen we will change and leave that country with a different perception. Every place I visited I have a different understanding, for sure.

 

 

What inspires you daily?

 

At the moment, spring in Banja Luka, city streets lined up with trees like no other and rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, canyons I had no idea we here.

 

Alen Jasarevic

““I find people inspiring who use intelligence, wit, and perseverance to change things that seemed unchangeable.” ”
— Alen Jasarevic

Alen Jasarevic

 

 

Photography and text: Marina Nikolic, Angelika Bredehle, Ralf Gerard

 

 

WEAST: .You are an award winning architect from Sarajevo who lives in Germany. Can you say something about your career?

Alen Jasarevic: My parents came to Germany from the former Yugoslavia in the 1970s. I grew up in Bavaria, and went here to school and I see myself more as bavarian with bosnian roots. After graduating from high school, I studied architecture in Augsburg and then gained first experience in a renowned architectural office. After this intensive apprenticeship, I became self-employed in 2003. Today, I work with 10 employees on various projects for housing construction, special buildings, school buildings, sports facilities and urban studies.

 

Inside the islamic Forum in Penzberg, Bavaria. photography Angelika Bardehle

 

WEAST: For the award-winning Islamic Forum in Penzberg, you have included the prayers in minarets as filigree decorations of steel plates. So no prayers had to be called 5 times a day, but just 1  time in order not to disturb the neighbors. Nevertheless, the mosque radiates a modern yet poetic presence.Were there any other special features that you have devised for this construction, with particular reference to the environment?


Certainly. The forum was my first work. The euphoria was great to realize such a building together with a very open-minded builder. 13 years have passed since the first stroke. Looking back, I am pleased that the house has had a positive effect on its surroundings as well as on its visitors and users. This has certainly contributed to the architecture. The openness of the community is reflected in the house - this is probably the main architectural contribution.

The islamic Forum in Pernzberg, Bavaria. photography: Ralf Gerard 

 

WEAST: Is there a cultural heritage that you particularly value from the old homeland? Would it be possible to bring this into German everyday life?

 

A.J: The self-evident approach of different religions and cultures in Sarajevo is something I would also like to see in Germany. This is somewhat paradoxical, since a terrible war had unfortunately changed this together for a short time. Despite the inhuman siege of the city, Sarajevo is still today a city with a vital variety. The large mosque is located in the neighborhood of the cathedral, the central Orthodox church and the synagogue. This is very enriching.

“ I also encourage my students to open up, to travel, to be curious, to try and dare.”
— Alen Jasarevic

The conception of the light seems to be very important in Jasarevics work, here is one his edifice in Munich, photography: Marina Nikolic

WEAST: Does an extended view of cultures help you in your work as an architect?

Of course! I also encourage my students to open up, to travel, to be curious, to try and dare.

Another engle of Jasarevics favorite works in Munich, photography: Marina Nikolic

 


WEAST:. How do you find the identity of your opinion in a different culture without losing personal integrity?

There is no guide or recipe for this. Everyone should decide for themselves individually. In the end, it is precisely the people with history who are interesting and inspiring - that could be a hint.
 
 

WEASTS: Are there any outside areas of architecture, people or designers who inspire you?

I find people who use intelligence, wit, and perseverance to change things that seemed unchangeable.

WEAST: What is your key to success?
Just recently, I saw an exhibition of a sculpture by Josef Wehrle that touched me. A lying cow struggling just effortlessly on the legs. Uneven, twisted with open mouth - not nice. But she has seen the power with which she gets into the booth. And so it is actually - without intensity it becomes nothing - only through painstaking work it can become something.

Aliquo in Belgrade

““I spot the opportunity to stay in one place, open my own business and not travel around the world to work.””
— Simone Apolloni

Lana Apolloni

Photography and text: Marina NIkolic

 

After the Interview was finished, Simone Apolloni says that he hopes that the content has substance and is not just empty talk. At the same time, the Italian businessman talksin fluent serbian with temporary italijan emphasis, or better said sound. He and his wife Lana are a good example of people with a lot of international experience who decided to live where they simply feel better. Double-sided success entitles them that it is possible. Before coming to Belgrade Simone Apolloni studied economics in Italy and worked as an industrial project manager, but also in Thailand, Russia, Switzerland and Brazil. In Swiss he finishes his MBA, where he meets Lana, his classmate. Lana, a girl of serbian origin also completed previously economic studies in Italy in and worked at Philip Morris in Belgrade as a budget controller. During their master studies they visit Belgrade together few times and Simone quickly gets an opportunity for business. Then finally, they decide to go back to Belgrade after Switzerland, where Simone opens soon a well going bureau forindustrial management and consulting.

Simone Apolloni

WEAST: Mrs Apolloni, did you always had an affinity for sweats and how it became a second career?

 

L.Apolloni:. There was always some love and hobby ever since I was very young. While studying economics and finance, I had a italian roommates and so I collected recipes their mothers and grandmothers kindly gave. We lived as students in this small town in Tuscany. The Italians went home on weekends and when they returned they brought insane good cakes and pastry. When I came to Belgrade. Simeon and I got a daughter. Then I realized that my life would make no sense in one multi international corporation where I use to work and for which I was educated, So I concluded  that I could open my own pastry shop. Here I did find myself completely. Although my past work experience helps me very much in everyday business.

““The difference between Italy and Switzerland is huge. Between Italy and Serbia not so much.””
— Lana Apolloni

WEAST: Is  Italian culture similar to Serbian? You also lived in Switzerland, how did the difference felt?

 

L.A: Well the difference between Italy and Switzerland is huge. Between Italy and Serbia not so much. Mostly of course in the way of simple  life aspects , how people work and socialize, what kind of family relationships are they living, they way they celebrate and similar.

WEAST: You're originally from Belgrade? Did living in Italy and Switzerland changed you?

 

L.A: YEs, it did a lot and in a good way. One of the important things is that I've decided to come back. In Serbia lots of people don't understand this, most of young professionals tend to immigrate to Western Europe or America. 

““There will be always something raw around here, which is not a bad thing.””
— Lana Apolloni

Belgrades Vracar district

WEAST: Why is that? What is the unique thing in this region?

 

The connection between people is authentic  around here, maybe it's because we've been through some tough times. Mutual help is present in day to day life.This kind of connection, openness and support is part of everyday life and progress, so did I grew up, so did our parents. We are now in a situation in which we are parents and see that such a social structure like this has its advantages. But I think the way we as a nation, we don't have the same mentality to be a good part of the way of  western functioning. There will be always something raw around here, which is not a bad thing.

WEAST: Mr. Apolloni did your perception of the Balkans changed since you arrived?

 

S.A: Honestly I did not had some particular perception of the Balkans nor the expectations when I arrived. But I think the encounter  generally is not easy for people who are accustomed to living in the West. Perhaps it was a bit easier for me first because I think that mentality in the central and southern part of Italy is very similar to the one in the Balkans. I was born 80 km from Rome. Second because I was already used to live in different countries and more complicated ones, like Brazil. Brazil is a beautiful country, but very difficult for life and business, especially in terms of security, which is not the case here at all. As far as my perception tells, of course, at the beginning it's harder,  you do not know the language, do not know the people and how the weather goes, but after a while it's all easier. Today I consider Belgrade to be my home.

““As far as my perception tells, of course, at the beginning it’s harder, you do not know the language, do not know the people and how the weather goes, but after a while it’s all easier.””
— Simone Apolloni

WEAST: In your successful consulting “Aliquo Group” you have experience in the meantime with lots if international clients who come here. Does specific cultural problems occur? For example, such as the perception of time?

S.A: Again, it depends on where  are you from. If you're a Swedish, Dutchman or Norwegian for you everything here is difficult. And speaking about perception of time, if you can deal with the southern part of Europe, Italians, Spain, Greeks and even France, then you would get along here also. Everything's clear at the outset and way of functioning is quite similar, business and life in contrast to the northern part of Europe. Depends on what you're used to (laughs quietly).

 

WEAST: Are there some possibilities here which don‘t exist in the West?

 

Simone Apolloni: There‘s a lot. I have accepted last year an invitation to an interesting event. I had an opportunity to speak at the university here in Belgrade and exchange thoughts with students. The main topic was: “What is the experience of a foreigner who lives and works here”. I was very sad to hear that most of the young people in Serbia have their primary objective to flee from Serbia. But not everything is great abroad.I can say what‘s going in Italy, for years now, a country which is full of natural resources the economy collapses slowly in the sense that there is no reform, no innovation, everything works in an old way. On the other hand, Balkans is a region which is the last part of Europenot fully integrated within the European Union.  And specificity because of this delay it is the part that needs a lot to be done. Infrastructure, highways,  economy, which particularlyneeds be reform and get on to its feet. It‘s filled with factories that were abandoned and waiting to be activated. If you look at it and compare very clear the statistics from where FDI gives information (Foreign Direct Investments ), in recent years, you will see and understand the business opportunities coming up in this area.

 

WEAST: So, eastern europe gets up from its cliches? This structure works less, chaos and poverty. This is changing?

 

S.A: Look at the reputation Poland had  in Western Europe 15 years ago. That changed. The same will happen here. Why? I m witnessing the slow change,: since 2008 I until today, it's been 8,5 years. Perhaps the people who live here can not see the slow change but things are getting better indeed. Not that the speed in which people would like to have that change. Corruption for example, decreased drastically. On a construction site, in  earlier days if inspections came it was known that they are expecting something from investors or from you as a project manager. Today this is no longer happening. I know through my job, that industrial infrastructure and economic center  of former yugoslavian industry was mainly here. Only this awareness, this by these factories, that "know how" the older generation can pass to reactivate industrial production. This is an invaluable asset. I want to say: it's not like we have to a built everything all new. Knowledge, know-how and infrastructure existed and it is easier to reactivate than make new all over again. I think this is a decisive aspect.

 

WEAST: You speak fluent serbian and are well integrated part of the environment. You're no longer a stranger here. Did your life here has changed?

 

S.A: Yes, and I'm grateful for that. I learned that to balance between work and private life. Other advantages are also important to me. In the West, to take Italy for example, and its most productive part, the northern part. There are factories on almost every corner,  almost every family has its own private business. Everybody are focused only on work, work, results and money. It produced an inpersonal way of life, raw contacts and open interaction became rare. While it is still preserved here, at least that part. It means a lot to me, honest socializing.

 

 

Meanwhile with a quite good revenue and several employees Simone Apolloni also speaks fluently serbian language. Lana decides to change her occupation and dares to open her own pastry shop withold italian recipes in Belgrade. The fact of coming to a country with a more difficult economic standards than the one they both finished their master studies, especially for someone from witheconomic background seemed daring. I was personally interested in the perception of the two of them, after experiencing other countries and ways of life. Both appear as a strong personalities, talking calm but loud enough, laughing also.

WEAST: Simon you are came  to Serbia, primarily for private reasons?

 

S.A: Yes in my entire career I worked as a project manager and travelled a lot. After finishing the economic faculty in Rome, I went to work as a project manager in an italian company, but they often send me abroad to open branch offices. At one point in 2006 I decided, after a working in Brazil, to do the MBA in Switzerland. During that time,I met Lana in my class, meanwhile my wife. With her I  came  2 times to Belgrade for a visit as a tourist and  also I went to meet some Italians who live in Belgrade. At the same time, this was a period when a deal between the state and Fiat and "Zastava" was happening (“Zastava is car brand from yugoslavian times). The reconstruction in Kragujevac started  with one of the Fiats factory. One previous company has recommended me to stay and lead the project, it was a reconstruction of the "quality centre" (that was the name of Fiats part of the factory). We started to work on this project , I stayed all the time here in Belgrade. Thereupon I got an another offer to do a project with another company, and when I saw that there are a lot of foreign investors coming, I spot the opportunity to stay in one place, open my own business and not travel around the world to work. 

 

Agora

““Finding your identity requirs a transformation of your perception “”
— Dragana Brankovic

Dragana Brankovic while shooting an artistic video at Agora

Photography and text: Marina Nikolic

 

It was a sunny day in the early summer of 2014 where I met Dragana Brankovic for the first time.
At that time I was in Belgrade to complete a photo project about the new creative development of the city and been running around in circles, couldn't find the beginning. Raquel, a gifted painter from Brazil, told me about her other girlfriend who also has Serbian roots and "crazy good” project in an old factory somewhere in Serbia at some lakes. So I contacted her and we agreed to meet for a coffee. Dragana lived for the last six years in Brazil. She looked like a Brazilian and had that enviable relaxed swag.</span>

 

Dragana Brankovic

 

We talked about our educational experience. I told her I finished studying photography in Munich and she studied Art at Bauhaus in Weimar. After doing an exchange Project in Belo Horizonte in Brazil she managed to stay there for 6 years. In her hometown of Bela Crkva, she organized an artists colony in an abandoned wood factory. She got grants from Serbian government for the project and managed to invite international artists. This year Brazilian artists were coming to participate in the project. I took a few days of to visit them in June. But instead of two days, I stayed two weeks and couldn't get away from that place as a source of inspiration.

 

Inside the old fabric "Pobeda"

 

The location of the factory Pobeda (Victory) was built after the WW2. The good times. It went bankrupt in the last Balkan war in the nineties, to be re-activated for making coffins supply for the war and then it got closed again. Dragana discovered these run-down premises again in 2013. The factory is located directly at the lake and she had an idea to transform these rooms into art workshops and a place of cultural exchange. Her project got the portuguese name "Agora" which means  “gathering place” or  “assembly” in latin.

Serbian Artist Anica Vucetic filming in Agora

Sasa Puckovski

Instalation by Svemir Lazarevic

When I arrived, I wanted to know immediately, what the "work program" was and who does what and how. I met a group of Brazilians who enjoyed  their relaxed day and looked at me as an odd German-Serbian. I have to admit I stopped being particularly interested in modern art before I came to this place. But here I had the opportunity to spend time with brilliant and talented people and see how they create. I started listen to their thoughts and realised that the creative process itself is interdisciplinary connected. That year of 2014, not only a bunch of brazilian artist but also a young German architect and a digital designer from Montenegro participated as well. Similarly to myself, they were also trying to redefine their creativity. We exchanged views of the world and helped each other in the work process. Above all, I learned to let go of the pressure of delivering a perfect outcome and just simply worked.

After these two weeks I got back to Belgrade and could easily finish my project.

The following year I came back to Agora and met new people at the exchange again.

 

Thank you Dragana for changing my view of time.

 

Place to stay over night

     

Famous Art Photographer and Agora Co-organizer Nenad Bracic

Beeraj

““With a little bit of hard or a lot of hard work anything really is available.””
— Oliver Haugham

Oliver Haugham in front his "Beeraj" store

 

 

Photohraphy and text: Marina Nikolic

 

Beeraj contains the English word beer but when it is read in Serbian: “biraj” it means choose. Beeraj is the name of the little but posh craft beer, cider and wine shop hidden in the old town of Novi Sad.

Its founder, Oliver Haugham, is in his early 30s, doesn't speak Serbian, but still seems to be everybody's pal. Novi Sad, second biggest city in Serbia, founded in Austria - Hungary times, has more to offer than a cosy old town and the Exit Music festival. This part of Serbia is well known for the mix of the cultures living there and the diversity in crafts and agriculture. But still, to Serbians, people from this area are all well known for being laid back and friendlier than the rest.

Oliver arrived for the first time in the Balkans, Serbia in 2006. He drove down with a truck full of wood with his father. They wanted to restore it into furniture. But it wasn't the first time for his father. He came around in 1992 when he took refugees from Sarajevo and taught them how to work with wood. They took this trade and settled in LJubovija, Drina. So there he was in 2006, travelling to Balkans with his father through Europe where Oliver “instantly fell in love with Drina” as he says, the river that flows beside LJubovija. Serbia was a crude surprise to him.

Novi Sad and traditional clothing

 

But not only nature and landscapes made an impression on the young Scottish manbut something that occurred already on the border that Saturday in 2006. He and his father waited for many hours to cross the border, so he ended up jumping the fence and playing football with local boys. People offered him and his father food  and a place to stay and didn't want anything in return. After this 2-week trip in the spring 2006, he went back and spent 6 months travelling through the country and then discovered Novi Sad, where he lives for 4 years now.

Although Oliver doesn't speak the Serbian language well, he seems to be fully integrated in his environment. Beeraj`s customers are mostly young people under the age of 30 and almost every evening the store is full, in summer Oliver and Olja organize music events in the front end.  His girlfriend Olja, an artist, made the logoand the design of the bottles which are filled when purchasing liquids. The business seem to be going well and they even expanded the shop this autumn. It seems Oliver wants to stay in Novi Sad.

 

 

WEAST: How did you come up with the Cider and Beer Shop idea?

 

O.H: After a few years between 2006 and 2008 it dawned to me that I really want to gain agriculture experience and to take some of the natural produce of Serbia and produce it into something. And the most logical thing at that time was cider as we were a family of more sorts of wine and we had experience with cider. In 2008 we bought a “salas”, which is a small farm, about 2 acres. So we purchased the farm and transformed what used to be an animal shed to a production space and fermentation room. In 2008 we started making small batches of cider, taking local produce, local apples from the area as well as some more interesting apples from the southern of Serbia, which are wild, organic apples. So we started this production and slowly but surely we built the cider production to an extent where we can go commercial. We started exporting to Croatia where we were selling cider at the festivals. We did this for two or three years and then in 2012 and 2013 we started trying the domestic market which was maybe a little bit too early but we started then and it led to this 2016 when in May we opened Beeraj which is not only specialized for cider but also the craft beer scene. We are particularly interested in this scene as Serbia had only imported beers for the last 10 years or only domestic beers which were bought up by big international companies. After 2 years we have seen 14 micro-breweries open in Serbia and producing some fantastic beers. Beeraj has basically got right behind that whole movement and its trying to push and promote local craft beers.

Beeraj in Novi Sad

WEAST: So there is a whole movement suddenly in the industry?

 

O.H: Yes and it really feels good to witness  how they already come out to the markets. Already 15 pubs in Belgrade and 13 in Novi Sad are selling craft beer and the distribution is growing. The styles, the forms, we can see more and more pigs, more pale ale. I think it is so interesting that younger people, like people in their 20s and their early 30s have this opportunity where they can produce an agricultural produce and especially that they are ambassadors of Backi Petrovac, hops which in 2011 completely collapsed. They went from 1400 hectare acres, 60 years ago and a global distribution to a production of 0. I have a Serbian friend called Nikola who also works with Brewdog in Scotland, he moved from Novi Sad  to Aberdeen, my hometown, exactly at the same tame when I moved here, so we kept in touch and we talked a lot about this things. Nikola positively encourages the renewed interest in hops production in Backi Petrovac and the most inspiring day of this summer and this whole campaign and the industry, I think, was to go to Petrovac and see that they got 6 hectare acres of hops back in the production, which is just phenomenal.

 

 

WEAST: Are you planning to stay in the Region?


 

O.H: Business is growing and I like living here. On top of that, the weather, the four seasons, a beautiful spring, a yellow beautiful autumn with all the produce that comes at the end of the summer. A combination of all that made me decide that it is a beautiful little heaven that hasn't been explored yet and that's why probably people have a wrong opinion of it. Geographically we are so close to Croatia for the summer for the sea coast, and as well to the mountains, Italy, Budapest, Vienna is only 3,5 hours away. And we have opportunities as entrepreneurs to take this local produce and try to work with it. So all in all, it's a full package and I still look forward to many more years in Serbia.

Olivers partner in crime Olja, also, responsible for the logo and the design and daily co-worker