Remix Comix is a unique project that connects four European countries with the aim of drawing public attention to marginalized groups and the issues they face through artistic projects in public spaces. In collaboration with the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, and the Netherlands, a two-week residency will take place in each host country during the year 2023, bringing together artists sent by the founding organizations. The Prague branch, called Mezikrok, aims to raise greater awareness of the issues surrounding children’s homes and activate the public, with a particular emphasis on the challenges faced by young adults when leaving these institutions. These individuals, who have been let down by both their families and society to some extent, enter adulthood with financial, social, and emotional deficits. Unofficial statistics indicate that at least half of them face a life of homelessness, imprisonment, or premature death.
The Czech residency will take place from July 1st to July 15th, 2023, in Prague. The main output of the residency has two forms: the first is a mural painting on the wall of the renowned Vnitroblock café, which will be the result of collaborative work by the residents. The second output will be a website (www.mezikrok.cz) that will provide comprehensive information about the project for the public. In greater detail, it will describe the issue accompanied by statistical data, document the creation of the mural, introduce the artists, and, importantly, offer specific ways in which the public can contribute to improving the situation. With the involvement of several nonprofit organizations such as Projekt Patron, Ašta Šmé, and Nadání a dovednosti, this guide will consist of simple steps that can have a direct and positive impact. These steps may include financial support, providing housing, or offering job opportunities.
During the residency, educational lectures and workshops will be conducted by experts from collaborating nonprofit organizations. These sessions will provide residents with statistical information about the situation and structure of children’s homes in the Czech Republic, as well as personal experiences of individuals who have lived within this system. The lecture series will also include workshops focused on teamwork and collaborative work.
The Prague residencies, led by curator Štěpánka Jislová, will be attended by:
Asja Komadina (Serbia)
Asja is a graphic designer and typographer with an unconventional education. Although she is currently completing her final year at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, majoring in design, her educational background is in journalism, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. Her work revolves around typography, interactive design in online environments, and visual graphic systems.
Jakub Bachorík (Czech republic)
He graduated from the Illustration and Graphics Studio at UMPRUM in Prague and actively pursues book illustration, contributes to magazines, creates murals, and comics. He is a passionate fan of science fiction, motorsports, bizarre narratives, and mysterious worlds. His recent exploration into obscure realities was his diploma project titled “UN-BE-LIE-VA-BLE Phantasmagoria,” in which he delved into the world of conspiracy theories.
Jana Adamović (Serbia)
Jana is an illustrator and comic book artist with international publishing experience. Her works primarily focus on social issues such as the refugee crisis and climate change. She actively promotes female comic artists and curated the exhibition “Ona se Budi / BD égalité,” a comprehensive showcase of over fifty female comic artists from four European countries. She is a co-founder of the female collective Comic-Auntie, which aims to support young comic authors.
Neža Jurman (Slovenia)
Neža Jurman, performing under the artistic pseudonym Nez Pez, is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana. Her work spans a wide range of techniques, from audiovisual installations to sculptures, drawings, and tattoos. Thematically, she explores the context of inhabited spaces, urban environments, and the emergence of subcultures. She resides between Ljubljana and Berlin.
Indi Hoorweg (Netherlands)
Indi is a theater artist, actress, and educator. The core of her artistic practice revolves around storytelling, unveiling certain truths and thought processes specific to the medium of theater. Through dance, movement, and music, she creates performances that focus on social themes, often drawing inspiration from the ensemble members themselves. Her artistic intention is to create a multidisciplinary interaction between the creator, the ensemble, and the audience.
Štěpánka Jíslová (Curator, Czech Republic)
Štěpánka is an illustrator, comic artist, and writer. She has authored eight comic books, including the superhero dystopia “Supro: Hrdinové na dluh” (Supro: Heroes in Debt) and the autobiographical story of Tereza Čechová, “Bez vlasů” (Without Hair). She is a co-founder of the organization Komiksodějky, which aims to promote Czech and Slovak female comic artists. She is involved in book cover design, book illustration, exhibitions, and giving lectures.
