BETONIUM, created by Katerina Kouzmitcheva, investigates the relationship between contemporary identity and architectural heritage in Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on the legacy of prefabricated residential blocks as instruments of urban control and ideological power. The project explores how these structures, shaped by the policies of former regimes, have influenced the collective identity of their inhabitants. 
Through artistic interventions—including conceptual actions in urban spaces, photography, performances, and collages—BETONIUM reveals the synthesis of historical and contemporary realities embedded in these environments. By creating “moving human sculptures,” the project metaphorically reflects the ideological influence on individuals, while photographic works capture the architectural commonalities across different countries. A key element of the project involves transposing images of panel-block facades from one country into another, forming a universal, imagined cityscape. These compositions highlight both the shared and divergent experiences of those living in these spaces. 
Spanning 11 countries, including Poland, Slovakia, Georgia, Estonia, Serbia, and Belarus, BETONIUM documents everyday life in panel housing estates, presenting an intimate yet critical perspective. Combining personal experience with research, Kouzmitcheva challenges perceptions of postsocialist architecture, revealing its role in shaping a unique cultural identity distinct from, yet equal to, its Western counterparts.
This exhibition is made possible thanks to the Polish Institute in Belgrade and is part of the BINA Festival.
katerinakouzmitcheva.com • @katerina_kouzmitcheva
Mon – Sat 11 – 19h