Skopje, 2–12 July 2015
The contemporary jewellery collection Goddess and the Dragon, co-created with Macedonian artist Biljana (Bibi) Klekačkoska, came to life in Skopje after its November premiere at Atelje Gallery in Ljubljana. An expanded selection of pieces combining filigree and Idrija lace was presented at “Mala Stanica”, part of the National Gallery of Skopje.
The show was included in the “Skopsko leto / Skopje Summer” arts festival, which brought notable public and media attention. In the morning we spoke at a well-attended press conference; in the evening, the opening featured greetings by Ms. Nata Kečkarovska of the festival and a speech by poet and literature professor Vladimir Martinovski, who offered his view of the project.
The official part concluded with poet Barbara Dragović reading her poem On the Wings of the Monarch Butterfly, part of her novella Goddess Mother and the Dragon, written at Biljana’s initiative as a “modern, urban myth” uniting the symbols of the goddess and the dragon—an inspiration for our collection.
The event was well attended; I was happy to welcome Mr. Domen Petelin from the Slovenian Embassy. Because bobbin lace is almost unknown in Macedonia, it sparked great interest, and there was even talk of organising a lace-making workshop in Skopje.
Our collaboration with Bibi continues: the exhibition will travel beyond Skopje and we will proceed under the joint brand “Zaplet”. Idrija Lace
