10/03/2026
The Journey of a Thousand Kaleidoscopes (2017–2026)
"What started in 2017 as an intimate circle of research at MKM Magacin in Belgrade has grown into a nomadic European laboratory. From the independent hubs of Belgrade (MKM Magacin, Papergirl Gallery Hub, DC Krov, Studentski Grad) to the vibrant cultural scene of Vienna (Brick 15, Brunnenpassage, Photo Cluster) and the creative spaces of Malmö (STPLN), Workshop 'Inner Kaleidoscope' has been a bridge between cities and souls. Now, arriving at ARGEKultur in Salzburg, I invite you to become part of this ongoing map of self-discovery.
Svetlana, you describe a childhood memory of a tiny spider opening a 'window to the unknown.' Many people feel that same curiosity but are afraid to open that window. How does your workshop create a safe space for that first, mystical step?
The workshop is not about acting; it’s about self-remembering. Like that tiny spider, we pause for a moment in our busy lives. We start by slowing down the 'accelerating rhythm' and simply becoming aware: I, here, now. ." It is more like a landing in your own self, through the body, through presence, with everything that we carry in ourselves at that – Feeling the Moment.
You have spent years as a freelance artist, navigating the 'Impossible Exile' of moving between cities. You often work alone, yet your methodology is deeply rooted in the group. Why do we still need the 'tribe' to truly see ourselves?"
As a freelancer, I often feel like a nomad in the unknown territory, carrying my office and my dreams in a suitcase. But the group / 'tribe' is my mirror. In the workshop, we are not alone in our predicament. We need the eyes of others - eyes that do not judge but accept us as equal explorers. It is only through the encounter with 'the other' that I can truly experience my own presence.
You mentioned importance of personal story as a symbol, what do you mean by that?
Through the "Inner Kaleidoscope," we use myths and symbols not as old stories, but as mirrors. In the Workshop we are all "nomads in the abyss." We use our bodies to bridge the gap between our temporary conditions jobs, permits, stress and our eternal individual vision. We discover that we are a universe in miniature. For me, our personal mythology is what matters most. Something might seem ordinary to others, but if it has a significant meaning for us, it becomes a revelation on our inner map.
You believe in the power of small, committed groups. In your workshops at places like MAGACIN or ARGEKultur, how does a simple 3-hour encounter between strangers become a radical act of social change?
I believe in the 'equality of intelligences.'. When we enter the room, we leave our 'conditions'—our jobs, our permits, our social status—at the door. For those three hours, we create a small model of a perfect society where every voice has a unique meaning. Transforming an 'ordinary' stranger into a universal mirror and a fellow brother/sister, that is a radical act. It proves that beauty and radical humanity are still possible in a fragmented world.
This story has no beginning or end. After 25 years of theatre research - from the laboratory theater work in Belgrade in 1990’s to recent international laboratories, I feel I am still on the road. I am profoundly grateful for the hundreds of beautiful people I have encountered. We have shared stories that continue to shine like tiny fireflies in the dark. It is their light that gives meaning to my 'Inner Kaleidoscope,' and it is their trust that allows us to find beauty in every transition.
COME AND JOIN US!
Workshop Inner Kaleidoscope
ARGEkultur Salzburg | 18 March 2026 | 17:30 – 20:30
Reserve your spot: [email protected]
Interview with an Imaginary Friend
March 10, 2026 | The Magic Mountain
