Vladan Joler: I dedicate "Silver Lion" to students in prison

Award Venetian white architecture "The Silver Lion", Vladan Joler dedicated to everyone students and activists in prison in Serbia or in forced exile.

Vladan Joler is the founder of the Sher Foundation and a professor at the Academy of Arts at the University of Novi Sad. He won the Silver Lion at the Venice Architecture Biennale as co-author of "Calculating Empires: A Genealogy of Technology and Power Since 1500."

Joler, thanking for the recognition, emphasized that he dedicates the award to his colleagues, students and professors of the University of Novi Sad who stood up against the "corrupt and criminal regime" in Serbia.

"I dedicate it to all students and activists who are currently in prison in Serbia or in forced exile. To all students, professors and citizens who are victims of police brutality, physical and psychological abuse, targeted surveillance, intimidation and smear campaigns organized by the regime. I dedicate it to the people who lost their lives under the canopy of the renovated railway station in Novi Sad, an event that started massive anti-government protests," said Joler.

Joler called on all architects, engineers, urban planners, artists and members of the academic community not to cooperate with unjust and corrupt regimes in the world, nor with politicians and companies that participate in exploitative practices for the sake of profit, power and control.

"This is not just a call for a boycott, but an open call to rethink and reimagine new social, political and economic systems," Joller said.

"Calculating Empires" is a 24-meter-long visual manifesto that traces 500 years of the development of technology-assisted control systems - from imperial dominance to modern artificial intelligence.

Joler won the Silver Lion with professor and researcher Kate Crawford, it was announced during the opening ceremony of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice.

Source: FoNet