"Promised Spaces", an ongoing project by filmmaker and visual artist Ivan Marković, focuses on drastic urban, social and environmental changes caused by luxury real-estate developments. Following a series of photography and video works observing urban changes in Serbia, China and Germany, he expanded his research in Cambodia. During the residency at Sa Sa Art Projects, Ivan Markovic and collaborator Katharina Hauke, worked on the preparation of a film observing these changes in Cambodia, in collaboration with Anti-Archive.

The film observes these changes from different local perspectives, but also points to global patterns of commercialisation of space. Gated communities and luxurious buildings architecturally divide the rich and poor, promote social isolation and separation as a desired way of living. At the Open Studio, the artists will show a video installation that were shot in Phnom Penh during the residency, and premiered in the group exhibition „the other side of water“ in Bethanien, Berlin. In addition, photographs and texts from their research for the upcoming film shooting will be presented.

About artists

Ivan Markovic is filmmaker and visual artist born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Graduated in cinematography from the Faculty of Drama Arts in Belgrade in 2012 and received a master’s degree in film from the University of Arts Berlin in 2019. In 2014, received the “Erste Foundation” Award for Best visual artist for his photography and video work. He Took part in “Berlinale talents” in 2015. The short film “White Bird”, that he co-directed with Lin feng Wu, had its premiere at Berlinale 2016. His experimental documentary “Centar” had its premiere at Doclisboa in 2018 and received the “Best Newcomer” award at Dokufest. “Centar” was shown in numerous festivals and exhibitions. “From Tomorrow on, I Will”, a feature film he co-directed with Lin feng Wu, had its premiere at Berlinale Forum 2019. The film received the Grand Prize at 2019 Jeonju IFF and the First Steps Award from the German Film Academy. Recently, as a cinematographer collaborated on several feature films including “You Have the Night” by Ivan Salatić, “Landscapes of Resistance” by Marta Popivoda and “I Was at Home, But...” by Angela Schanelec, which won the Silver Bear at Berlinale 2019. In 2020, he became a member of the European Film Academy. He lives and works between Belgrade and Berlin. More in information please go to http://www.ivanm.info

Katharina Hauke is a Berlin based audio and visual artist and director of photography. Her artistic practice and research encompass sound, video, photography and text. She studied Art and Media at UdK Berlin. She studied Philosophy at Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelms University, Bonn and Communication Design at the University of Applied Sciences, Düsseldorf, where she graduated with her audio-visual thesis „Darwin’sche Finken suchen“. In 2016 she graduated at University of Arts, Berlin (narrative Film and generative Arts) with her instrument „MikroKontrolleur”, in 2019 she received the degree of Meisterschüler from Prof. Dr. Phil. Alberto de Campo for her artistic research project „Sirenen”. Please visit
https://www.behance.net/kaether