I am deeply honored to represent Serbia at the 10th Beijing International Art Biennale with my painting “As One,” to be exhibited at the National Museum of Art in Beijing, China.

Established in 2002 under the auspices of the State Council and in accordance with international biennale protocols, the Beijing International Art Biennale stands as a non-profit institution founded by the China Artists Association. Through nine successive iterations culminating in 2022, this platform—jointly organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and the China Artists Association—has cultivated cultural dialogues spanning 150 nations across five continents. The Biennale has received submissions from over 130 countries, featured active participation from nearly 120 nations, and engaged more than 5,000 artists who have contributed nearly 6,000 works to its exhibitions, collectively drawing millions of visitors. Over two decades of evolution have established it as China’s preeminent international forum for artistic exchange and cultural discourse.

Peace constitutes the paramount aspiration of human civilization—a state of being that transcends the mere absence of conflict to embody a positive condition of harmonious coexistence predicated upon mutual recognition, intercultural dialogue, and reciprocal respect among diverse peoples, belief systems, and civilizational paradigms. Where war engenders suffering and rupture, peace cultivates the conditions for human flourishing and collective hope.

The year 2025 commemorates the 80th anniversary of humanity’s triumph over fascism in the World Anti-Fascist War. This historical juncture compels us toward critical remembrance, reaffirming peace and justice as foundational prerequisites for economic vitality, technological innovation, and societal advancement. Peace must be understood not as a passive state but as an active commitment—the essential substrate upon which global cooperation, shared prosperity, and equitable distribution of resources are constructed.

Despite contemporary challenges including terrorism, regional conflagrations, and nuclear proliferation, humanity’s pursuit of peace remains unwavering. We must collectively honor and safeguard this fundamental entitlement of all peoples.

The question of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature—whether articulated through classical Chinese philosophical principles of wu wei (无为, “following the natural way”) or contemporary frameworks of intergenerational equity and ecological stewardship—remains central to civilizational sustainability and progress. In our present epoch, characterized by accelerated technological transformation, the pervasive integration of technology across all spheres of social existence, and the exponential advancement of artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems alongside the radical expansion of instrumental rationality, profound questions emerge: How can human autonomy, agency, and dignity resist marginalization and existential diminishment? How might we achieve unprecedented levels of subjective confidence and authentic identity formation? The challenge of establishing equitable, life-affirming relationships between human consciousness and machinic intelligence represents one of the most pressing imperatives confronting our collective wisdom.

Art’s vocation in this context is not withdrawal or retreat, but rather active engagement and critical reflection—a philosophical intervention into the ontological and ethical dilemmas of our time. What an extraordinary and intellectually invigorating moment this presents for artistic practice and cultural production!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​