At the exhibition “Transparent: Don’t Buy – Create!”, organized by Young Researchers of Serbia with the support of Sweden, visitors had the opportunity to see 41 artworks created using upcycling art with a variety of techniques and materials. The idea behind the exhibition is to demonstrate, through art, that materials we discard on a daily basis can become a source of new meanings, aesthetic value, and environmental responsibility.
We had the honor and pleasure of officially opening the exhibition on 25 November with Anna Charlotta Malm, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden (Sida), and Ivan Kocić, an artist known for works that merge recycling with contemporary expression. This event symbolically marked the closing of the Green Diplomacy Week 2025, taking place at a moment when, toward the end of the year, we enter a period of intense consumption, when more is bought than during the rest of the year. While spending is widely encouraged, often beyond what is truly necessary, this exhibition sends a different message: to buy with purpose, to pause, and to reconsider the habits that lead us toward excessive consumption.
“True art does not begin with buying, but with a thoughtful relationship toward the objects and materials we already have. Glass remembers what we often forget. Each of its fragments preserves traces of everyday life, habits, and decisions—both considered and impulsive—that create waste faster than we are able to reflect upon it. With this exhibition, we wanted to show that changing habits is not only possible but also inspiring. Discarded objects, through art, gain new meanings and become an invitation to shape the world more responsibly,” emphasized Katarina Klašnja from Young Researhers of Serbia.
This year’s theme, “Transparent,” inspired by glass, invited artists to explore what is truly revealed when we observe the world through transparent surfaces, and what secrets our everyday habits, choices, and consumer patterns conceal. The art of upcycling encourages reflection on everyday objects and our relationship with them, showing that waste can become a source of inspiration and a powerful messenger.
Thus, artist Ivan Kocic presenting his new work “If Only We Had One More Tesla,” points out that the exhibition draws attention to what can be created from what is considered “trash,” and how objects can be enriched when viewed through a different lens. Through the creative transformation of discarded items, the artists demonstrate that every old object can become inspiration and an incentive for a responsible relationship with nature and meaningful creation.
Within this concept, through shimmering glazes, stained glass, resin, and transparent fabrics, artworks were created that offer new interpretations, reflect important environmental and social themes, and show how waste can become a bearer of new meanings. One such work is the sculpture The Woman of Glass by artist Anka Stojanovic, which offers multilayered interpretations: “The sculpture represents two figures: a woman covered with a scarf, and behind her a shadow, or a nude figure. Two identities of a woman, just like glass, which is transparent yet strong, although at the same time fragile.”
Across all the works, the same message is conveyed: materials that would otherwise end up in landfills can become a powerful medium for storytelling, critique, and a change of perspective. One such example is “The Vampire Squirrel” , by artist Vuk Maksimovic, who emphasizes that the work functions as a contemporary totem and a symbol of resistance to modern society, demonstrating that upcycling, beyond its aesthetic expression, also carries a strong message.
The full N.EON Gallery and notable visitor engagement highlighted a strong and growing interest in upcycling in Serbia. The exhibition brought together authors of diverse backgrounds, from professional artists to creatives from other fields – who transformed discarded materials into inspiring works of art. In this way, it was demonstrated in one place that awareness of responsible resource use is highly developed in Serbia and that we are keeping pace with global trends in the creative transformation of discarded materials.
The artworks will soon be presented in a digital catalogue on the Young Researchers of Serbia website, allowing everyone to learn more, explore the messages behind these works, and find inspiration in this concept, which is still new to many. Until then, the atmosphere from the opening can be seen in the photos below, as well as on the YouTube channel of Young Researchers of Serbia.
The “Transparent: Don’t Buy – Create!” competition and exhibition are part of the broader “Transparent” campaign implemented by Young Researchers of Serbia with the support of Sweden, aiming to encourage changes in habits, responsible resource use, and reflection on what we leave behind—both in art and in everyday life.
