In addition to the theater program, within the framework of the International Festival of Ancient Drama "Stobi" in Veles, an exhibition of photos of theater masks by the Serbian artist Filip Cvetkovic has been set up.

The thematic exhibition of theatrical photographs entitled "Masks", set up within the framework of IFAD "Stobi", contains twenty works. The topic deals with the theatrical mask, as well as its meaning for the actor himself, because the mask is part of the costume and gives the actor his visual identity.

The author of the masks is the Serbian artist Filip Cvetkovic, while the author of the photos showing the masks in Veles is the photographer Nikola Milosavljevic. The masks were made for the needs of performances at the National Theater in Nis, Serbia.

The artist Cvetkovic explained that the cooperation with the Veles Theater in terms of setting up the exhibition happened quite spontaneously.

- The works fit into the concept of the festival and it was an immediate occasion for cooperation. The communication with the organizer of the festival takes place at a highly professional level and I am really glad to be a part of the tradition that the festival has - Cvetkovic pointed out for "Culture Press".

Until now, his cooperation with theaters was based only on certain plays, because he is not employed in a theater. He also said that "art does not suffer from monotony, therefore the working environment should be changed and there should be a wide circle of collaborators". Regarding the making of the masks, he said that "it is not difficult at all to make a mask for a certain character - on the contrary, it is easy. Every line, every point, color of the face should have a certain meaning, and behind the entire making of the mask there should be a story behind which the creator's personal message is hidden."

- To draw or make a mask is a part of art, of painting and of sculpture, and its production mostly depends on the need for which it is intended. It's a nice feeling knowing you've contributed to making a character look almost perfect. I have mostly collaborated with theaters and that theatrical liveliness is specific and always different - explained Cvetkovic.

When it comes to performances of ancient dramas, he pointed out that the process of the visual appearance of the actors depends on the imagination of the director and how he perceives the character, while the costume designer, the masker and all the other collaborators are there to suggest their ideas in a way with which the whole and the end result will be obtained.

- The most important thing is to read the work that is staged well so that you can experience everything that is needed to be translated on stage, and then in cooperation with the director and the costume designer, you come to an ideal solution, when it comes to the mask - he pointed out Cvetkovic.

(The text was published in "Cultural Press" number 147, in the print edition of the newspaper "Free Press" on September 24-25, 2022)