The title Kolacnikov is constructed of the word 'kolaci', meaning cakes (in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian), and 'Kalashnikov', the most popular post Second World War rifle.
I initially based the cake decoration on the patterns of the traditional folklore from Bosnia and Herzegovina, developing new folkloric patterns through the process of watercolour painting (see image below). Combining traditional folklore textiles and patterns, with the sugarcraft techniques to make the 'cake gun', served as a sprinboard for questioning the relationship between tradition and nationalism, between mythology and history, between sweetness, pleasure and violence.
Top: Kolacnikov, watercolour on tracing paper, 2005
Bottom: Kolachnikov,
icing sugar, straw and old army Kalashnikov storage box, at the Visual Dislocation exhibition, The Museum of Contemporary Arts, Banja Luka, 2007
Kolacnikov sculpture was first shown in 2005 at the Blue Elephant Theatre, London, as part of KnotWorks art exhibition. At the opening of the exhibition, I have cut the second Kolacnikov, and served as a cake, in a performative event, 'The Gun Sale'.
For the UK edition of Kolacnikov sculpture I collaborated with Gina, a local cake maker www.ginascakes.com
Most recently, in a new format Kolacnikov sculpture took part in the Visual Dislocation exhibition, at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Aug-Sept 2007. For this exhibition I worked together with two local cake makers Maja Dragojevic and Biljana Jurkovic. These collaborations were important and treasured part of the project.
KnotWorks exhibition and the making of Kolacnikov, has been funded by the Arts Council England.
Visual Dislocation exhibition has been supported and organised by PROTOK, Art Association based in Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
