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In the summer of 2019, writer Ljiljana Maletin Vojvodić and multimedia artist Dragan Vojvodić carried out an art-based research project in Japan, titled The Meaning of Home in Japanese Culture, supported by the “Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture Foundation” and the “EU-Japan Fest Committee” (Tokyo), as part of the Kizuna cultural exchange programme.

The project explored the concept of “home” in the context of Japanese society, with a focus on themes such as identity, belonging, migration, natural disasters, globalization, and the role of art in shaping and reflecting these experiences.

A key part of the project was a questionnaire in English, which collected responses from 30 Japanese artists and community members. The aim was to understand how individuals perceive “home” in a rapidly changing world.

During the research stay, Ljiljana and Dragan visited major museums in Tokyo (MOT, Mori Art Museum, and Yayoi Kusama Museum), held meetings with Japanese artists and cultural institutions, and promoted exchange opportunities through the ArtBox artist-in-residence program in Novi Sad, aimed at fostering future Serbian–Japanese collaborations.

Several texts and travelogues related to the project were published in Serbian newspapers and online platforms.

This ongoing research and artistic collaboration continues to grow through exhibitions, blog publications, and open calls for international cooperation.

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Over the next three years, nine Japanese artists will visit the Art Box Artist-in-Residence Programme in Serbia, coordinated and led by Ljiljana Maletin Vojvodić.

As part of their residency, they will participate in a diverse cultural program, including:

• creative workshops with Serbian high school students,

• a slam poetry night,

• a photography exhibition, and

• artist talks and exchanges with local artists from Novi Sad.

This residency aims to strengthen cultural ties between Japan and Serbia and provide a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and shared artistic expression.