Montažstroj

Montažstroj (stylized as MONTAZSTROJ) is a Croatian art collective that produces works across theatre, dance, music, visual and audio-visual arts. It was founded by artistic director Borut Šeparović in 1989.[1]

History

Montažstroj is a Croatian neologism derived from the words "montage" (Croatian: montaža) and "machine" (Croatian: mašina). According to the collective, "montage" represents ideas of fusion, film/video editing, and assembly line work, while "machine" refers to early 20th-century futuristic ideals of order and discipline.[2]

Early projects

For the first several years after its creation, Montažstroj focused on the theatricalization of football and elements of pop culture, producing performances, installations, videos, and choreographic works.[3][4] The lived experience of socialism, the shifts of post‑communism in Croatia, and the 1990s war in the former Yugoslavia substantially shaped the group's early artistic language and concerns.[3][5]

Montažstroj's first professional production, "VATROTEHNA" (Vatrotehna), premiered in 1990, drawing on Promethean myth and the fate of V. E. Meyerhold.[3][6] "RAP OPERA 101" (1991) further linked theatre, mass media, and the wartime context through a hybrid performance idiom aligned with the collective's pop‑cultural and agitprop aesthetics.[3] In 1991, the group also produced the patriotic video "CROATIA IN FLAME" (Hrvatska u plamenu), part of its broader engagement with media and national upheaval.[3]

Performingunit

In 1997, Montažstroj began pursuing a long‑term goal of building an international company with a strong artistic identity not bound to a particular culture.[7] The founder of Montažstroj, Šeparović, founded the group Performingunit in the Netherlands. The group focused on an individual's position and identity, highlighting performers as the main component of the production.[8]

During this period they produced works such as "TERRIBLE FISH" (Strašna riba), based on Sylvia Plath’s poetry; "WHO IS WOYZECK?", based on Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck; and "The Encyclopedia of the Dead" (Enciklopedija mrtvih), based on a story by Danilo Kiš.[9]

Interdisciplinary projects

Montažstroj's projects "T‐FORMANCE", "T‐FAKTOR", and "THE THEATRE YOU DESERVE" were multimedia interactive events that explored terrorism and media spectacle, with a pronounced use of new media and participatory formats.[10][11][12] "THIS IS THE THEATRE YOU DESERVE" (ovo je pozorište koje zaslužujete) is documented as a participatory project that tests audience expectations and responsibility.[13]

In 2008, the theatrical production "TIMBUKTU" addressed themes of social exclusion in its staging and concept.[14]

Social engagement

"MY HEART BEATS FOR HER" (Srce moje kuca za nju) (2010) juxtaposed football and the realities of unemployed women, reconstructing Croatia's victory over England at Wembley on 21 November 2007, with a women's cast and participatory framing.[15][16]

In 2010, "VATROTEHNA 2.0" (Fire‑Technics 2.0) revisited the group's early vocabulary to reflect on a decade of social change through an updated performance matrix.[17][18]

In 2014, "LITTLE MAN WANTS TO CROSS THE LINE" (Mali čovjek želi preći granicu) drew on the spirit of the Yugoslav new wave compilation Paket aranžman to stage a large community "choir of little people," blending professionals and non‑professionals.[19]

Montažstroj's 2014 music video "COMMUNISM" (Komunizam) forms part of the broader multimedia project "WHERE'S THE REVOLUTION, SCUM?" (Gdje je revolucija, ološu?), extending the collective's engagement with social critique across video and performance platforms.[20][21]

Film

The project "COUNTERATTACK" (Kontranapad) (2013) addresses the problem of landmines in the broader context of environmental pollution and the long‑term repercussions of war on society.[22] Conceived as a film and performance initiative, it uses audio‑visual and performing‑arts strategies to foreground the landmine issue and its human consequences.[23] Within the collective's dance practice, the project is framed as one "in which dance is more than art and every step a matter of life and death," underscoring its risk‑conscious, advocacy‑driven approach.[24]

Performances

Year Title Group Notes
1990 FIRE-TECHNICS Montažstroj Based on Prometheus Bound.[25]
1991 RAP OPERA 101 Montažstroj Based on Philoktetes, translated by H. Mueller. Co-production with festival Eurokaz, Zagreb.[26]
1993 ENJOY MONTAŽSTROJ! Montažstroj Dance performance.
1994 EVERYBODY GOES 2 DISCO FROM MOSCOW 2 SAN FRANCISCO Montažstroj Dance performance.
1995 DISCO RE-MIX Montažstroj Dance performance.
1996 EURO-BODY Montažstroj Dance performance.
1997 EXERCISES MOBILE sections + CONVERTIBLE sections (work-in-progress) Montažstroj Collaboration with different partners.
1999 FRAGILE Montažstroj and Performingunit Dance performance. Co-production with Intercult, B.I.T., Frascati.
2000 DUET Performingunit Dance performance.
2001 TRUTH OR DARE? Performingunit Co-production with Chassé Theater Breda, Frascati Amsterdam.
2001 TERRIBLE FISH Performingunit Performance based on the poem "Three Women" by Sylvia Plath.
2002 WHO IS WOYZECK? Performingunit Based on Woyzeck.
2004 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE DEAD Montažstroj Based on the story "Encyclopedia of the Dead" by Danilo Kiš.
2007 T-PERFORMANCE Montažstroj Interactive performance.
2007 THE THEATRE YOU DESERVE Montažstroj Interactive/participatory event. Co-production with Teatar&TD, Zagreb.[27]
2008 TIMBUKTU Montažstroj Theatre, participatory project. Co-production with Zagreb Puppet Theatre Travno, Zagreb.
2009 I F*** ON THE FIRST DATE Montažstroj Theatre, project on location, participatory project.
2009 ZAGREB BY NIGHT Montažstroj Theatre, project on location, action. Co-production with Banana Guerilla, Zagreb.
2009 T-FACTOR Montažstroj Theatre, project on location, participatory project. Co-production with Festival Perforacije, Zagreb, Rijeka, Dubrovnik.
2010 MY HEART BEATS FOR HER Montažstroj Theatre, dance; reconstruction of 21 November 2007 Wembley match with women participants.[28]
2010 FIRE-TECHNICS 2.0 Montažstroj Theatre; co-production with Zagreb Youth Theater, Perforacije & Operacija: Grad, Zagreb; analysed in scholarly work.[29]
2011 SAMPLE Montažstroj Theatre, performance, dance.
2012 55+ Montažstroj Theatre, video project.
2013 THE FUTURE IS NOW Montažstroj Theatre, participative project.
2014 THE UPRISING YOUTH Montažstroj Theatre, dance; co-production with Pogon and partners.[30]
2014 LMWCL[31] Montažstroj Theatrical audio-visual performance.
2014 WHERE'S THE REVOLUTION, SCUM? Montažstroj Theatre/audio/video umbrella (includes "COMMUNISM" video).[32]
2015 SUSPENSION OF WORKS Montažstroj Theatre, participative project. Zagreb Centre for Independent Culture and Youth – Pogon.
2015 CONTINUATION OF WORKS Montažstroj Project on location, participative project. University Hospital in Zagreb.
2016 THE BLACK BOOK Montažstroj Theatre performance.
2017 CYANKALI §218 Montažstroj Theatre, video project.
2017 LOVE & ECONOMY Montažstroj Documentary performance, humanitarian event.
2017 CELEBRATION Montažstroj Theatre, video project.
2017 THE ORGANISATION Montažstroj Experimental video project.
2017 KRLEŽA, OR WHAT ARE FLAGS TO US AND WHAT ARE WE TO FLAGS THAT WE CRY FOR THEM SO Montažstroj Theatre performance based on the life of Miroslav Krleža.
2019 YOUTH WITHOUT GOD Montažstroj Theatre performance, video project.
2019 ENCOUNTERS Montažstroj Documentary project.
2019 THE ZONE Montažstroj Theatrical performance. Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb.
2020 IN FORMATION IN LIQUIDATION Montažstroj Multimedia art exhibition.
2021 RADNIČKA CESTA (WORKERS ROAD) Montažstroj Online video series, performance.
2022 HE WHO DOES NOT WORK SHALL NOT EAT Montažstroj Online video series, interviews.
2022 EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE Montažstroj Online video series. Directed by Ana Prolić.
2022 ALONE TOGETHER Montažstroj Online video series, performance.
2023 Tour of the University Hospital in Zagreb.[33]
2025 THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND Montažstroj Theatre performance; current project noted on troupe site.[34]

Crossover

1989. THE FOOTBALL BOOT IN THE ART GALLERY (action / performance)[35]

1990. ACHTUNG ALARM (action / performance)[36]

1991. CROATIA IN FLAME (video clip)[37][38]

1991. HOP & RAS, DVA (installation / performance)[39]

1991. ATLETA SRCA vs. BARBAROGENIJE (action)[40]

1992. MONTAŽSTROJ LIVE! (music performance / concert)[41]

1995. NO DISTANCE (action / street performance)[42]

2009. THE FOOTBALL BOOT IN THE MUSEUM (action / performance / project on location)[43]

2010. ACHTUNG ALARM! 2.0 (action / performance / project on location)[44]

2010. FIRESTARTER (action / performance / project on location)[45]

2010. B.D.L.2.0 (action / performance / project on location)[46]

2011. CROATIAN CREATION – MONTAŽSTROJ CALLS FOR WITNESSES (media project / exhibition)[47]

2013. COUNTERATTACK (video project / dance)[48]

2014. CONSUMED (video project / media project)[49]

2014. SWASTIKA (media project / audio project / video project)[50]

2014. COMMUNISM (media project / audio project / video project)[51][52]

2014. RABIES (media project / audio project / video project)[53]

References

  1. ^ Kvorka, Tanja (25 December 2024). "Montažstroj obilježio 35 godina i najavio projekt "Slijepi vode slijepe"". Glas Slavonije (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Croatian Neologism". montazstroj. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "1990s Beyond Institutions: Zagreb Independent Theatre Scene" (PDF). ArteActa (PDF). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  4. ^ "MONTAЖ$TROJ marks 35 years of artistic responsibility and social engagement". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Montažstroj's Emancipatory Performance Politics: Never Mind the Score" (PDF). Nomos eLibrary (PDF). 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Meyerhold Bound: Montažstroj's "Vatrotehna (2.0)" and the Barbaric Discipline of the Machine". Academia.edu. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  7. ^ "MONTAЖ$TROJ marks 35 years of artistic responsibility and social engagement". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  10. ^ "THE THEATRE YOU DESERVE". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Montažstroj's Emancipatory Performance Politics: Never Mind the Score" (PDF). Nomos eLibrary (PDF). 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  13. ^ "THE THEATRE YOU DESERVE". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  14. ^ "timbuktu". montazstroj.wordpress.com. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  15. ^ "MY HEART BEATS FOR HER". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Srce moje kuca za nju". TEATAR.HR (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  17. ^ "FIRE‑TECHNICS 2.0". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Meyerhold Bound: Montažstroj's "Vatrotehna (2.0)" and the Barbaric Discipline of the Machine". Colloquia Humanistica. 2017. doi:10.11649/CH.2017.011. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Little man wants to cross the line (MONTAЖ$TROJ)". Otchuda. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  20. ^ "COMMUNISM". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Video projects (category)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  22. ^ "COUNTERATTACK". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  23. ^ "COUNTERATTACK". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Dance (project category)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  27. ^ "THE THEATRE YOU DESERVE". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  28. ^ "MY HEART BEATS FOR HER". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  29. ^ "FIRE-TECHNICS 2.0". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  30. ^ "THE UPRISING YOUTH". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  31. ^ Mačković, Vesna (14 March 2014). "Little man wants to cross the line (MONTAЖ$TROJ)". Otchuda.
  32. ^ "Video projects (category)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  33. ^ "CONTINUATION OF THE "TOUR" PROJECT – SIGN UP FOR FUTURE EVENTS!". Montažstroj. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  34. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  35. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  36. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  37. ^ "'Croatia In Flame' – Montažstroj Theatre & H.C. Boxer". YouTube. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  38. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  39. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  40. ^ "MONTAЖSTROJ – About & history". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  41. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  42. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  43. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  44. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  45. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  46. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  47. ^ "Projects – Montažstroj (archive index)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  48. ^ "COUNTERATTACK". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  49. ^ "Video projects (category)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  50. ^ "Video projects (category)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  51. ^ "COMMUNISM". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  52. ^ "Video projects (category)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  53. ^ "Video projects (category)". Montažstroj. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
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