Balkanski Suzduk
This artwork is my scream about identity, belonging, and alienation in the Adriatic region. Growing up in Skopje, North Macedonia, he was bullied and called "bosanski sudžuk", a label that marked him as an outsider. Later, in Montenegro, he was called "Makedonac", reinforcing a lifelong sense of displacement.
The Balkan sausage becomes a powerful symbol - common across cultures, yet belonging to none. By using it to anchor the artwork to the wall, the artist reclaims the insult, transforming it into a statement of identity and resilience.
With a family heritage spanning Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia, he identifies as a true "Balkanski Sudžuk". Despite deep Balkan roots, he feels trapped there, with a burning passion to leave this region that never fully accepted him. But just like a piece of sudžuk nailed to the wall and left hanging to dry, the artist is stuck there, suspended between cultures and identities.
He is caught between frustration, longing, and the hope that others who feel similarly displaced will find recognition in this piece.
