This was a sort of "artistic offensive" that brought art to places not typically used for artistic purposes, such as this—the oldest shopping center in the city—where the primary focus is buying and selling. It was a unique opportunity for art to enter the lives of those who had never stepped into a gallery, or those who had not visited one in decades.

The exhibitions were organized thanks to the collaboration between the Charlama Center for Cultural Activities and the DEPO Portal (produced by Jasmin Duraković). "Subdokumenta," a subversive exhibition in the basement, arrived exactly on the twentieth anniversary of "Yugoslav Documents," and the exhibiting artists followed the lineage of the former "Yugoslav Documents." The exhibition poster was designed by professor of design Bojan Hadžihalilović.

Artists from all over Yugoslavia exhibited at "Yugoslav Documents"—those less known or moderately known in their own environments, who were original, authentic, and reactive to reality. The selection of artists for "Subdokumenta" was curated by Jusuf Hadžifejzović, along with Lucia Pianto, a gallery owner from Italy. They were guided by the idea of showcasing the most progressive and authentic artists who were dealing with the problem of the present at that time. The works were diverse, ranging from fashion to applied arts, design, painting, video art, installations, sculptures, drawings, photography, and so on.

The conflict between artists and everyday life in a time of permanent crisis

During the Yugoslav era, Skenderija was a symbol of prosperity. The sports facilities above the shopping center were the venues for the 1984 Winter Olympics, while the facilities below bustled with a wide range of consumer goods. However, many shops closed during the 2008 economic crisis.

Jusuf Hadžifejzović viewed the struggles of the Sarajevo art scene then as part of living art itself: “The whole thing is like a single work to me. I truly look at this place as a location where artists will remain for a long time. Namely, as long as the situation in the country is not settled—and it's unlikely that will happen very soon—we are here. I call all these things ‘immersion into reality.’ In the sixties, it became fashionable for artists to go out into the streets, and now, in a time of recession, shops are left empty because people are unable to survive in the market. In these circumstances, spaces unexpectedly opened up for us into which art could move.”

The opening of "Subdokumenta" was attended by Yasmine Ryan, a journalist for The New York Times, who noted that the contemporary art scene in Sarajevo was in constant conflict with everyday life.

“On a recent autumn evening in Sarajevo, a crowd of art enthusiasts sipped drinks as one of Bosnia’s most respected artists and curators, Jusuf Hadžifejzović, began his opening remarks for a new exhibition. Suddenly, the lights went out, but he continued his speech in the dark, unfazed. A few minutes later, a cleaning lady calmly pushed her cart loaded with mops and detergents through the audience. The speeches continued,” she recorded at the time.

Over 40 exhibitions in one year

As part of "Subdokumenta," the following artists held their exhibitions: Bojan Hadžihalilović, Cristiana Biron, Evie Shubert, Muradif Ćerimagić, Igor Bošnjak, Saša Bukvić, Gordana Anđelić Galić, Šahin Šišić, Kenan Hašimbegović, Alma Suljević, Lejla Ćehajić, Aleksandar M. Marković, Bishan Basshiri, the Sarajevo group Ambrozija, Donata Wenders, Ivan Kožarić, Vlado Martek, the group IRWIN from Ljubljana, the Sarajevo Gallery 10m2, Danijel Premec, Nela Hasanbegović, Damir Nikšić, Almin Zrno, Fikret Libovac, Halil Tikveša, and others. "Subdokumenta" lasted from October 2009 until the end of December 2010, and during that period, visitors to the Skenderija Shopping Center had the opportunity to visit about 40 different exhibitions simultaneously.

Regarding why he decided to become part of this project, Bojan Hadžihalilović told DEPO at the time: “When Jusuf presented his idea to me, I simply went crazy for it and was happy to be part of something from the beginning that is a quiet, cultural, artistic occupation of a space—specifically, the Shopping Center.”

Robert Sošić and Tomislav Brajnović at "Subdokumenta"

Under a slogan paraphrasing Karl Marx, two Istrian artists—Robert Sošić and Tomislav Brajnović—presented their works to the public at "Subdokumenta" on June 8, 2010.

Sošić presented several works to the Sarajevo audience: painting the gate of a former barracks in Pazin white, placing a white flag on a fortress in Italy, and an exhibition titled "The Red Flag." The exhibition was accompanied by photographs from Sošić's studio, where the artist made notes on the walls regarding the inception of the concept "Artists of all countries, unite!" and the ideas that emerged from it.

For lovers of audio-visual art, Tomislav Brajnović presented the project "Ego Trip," which was included in the unique art project "The Arctic Circle." This project involved 15 artists and three scientists who, through artistic expression, attempted to warn the public about numerous economic and environmental problems in the world.

Silent revolution, surprise, and catharsis

"Subdokumenta" demonstrated how art should be brought to unconventional places, allowing people who otherwise would not have the opportunity to encounter it, as the factor of surprise has a special effect on the audience. For the authors as well, exhibiting in spaces previously unused for artistic purposes is very potent.

"I myself have always preferred to accidentally see the work of an artist—for example, in the subway, on the street, or in a cafe—rather than in a gallery space intended for those purposes. I like those more nonchalant situations," Jusuf Hadžifejzović stated for the DEPO Portal at the time.

Through the series of texts "Stories from Charlama," DEPO Portal recalls the most significant events from the past of this cult gallery over previous decades, while also bringing the audience closer to the recent art scene in Sarajevo and much further afield. "Stories from Charlama" also serve as a historical introduction to the "Subdokumenta Sarajevo Biennale of Visual Arts," which will take place in Sarajevo from September 3 to September 30 this year.

This project was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton as one of the projects that enriches the cultural scene of Sarajevo Canton and serves as an overture to the Biennale of Contemporary Art to be held in Sarajevo from September 3–30.