The turnout was quite a surprise as Mugna Gallery opened “Wish Full Thinking,” the solo exhbition of Crossover 2025’s artist-in-residence Tanja Djokic from Serbia.
Despite an earlier opening reception held at 4PM, local creatives and artists, as well as students and Dumaguete art afficionados trooped up to Valencia to meet Djokic and revel in her overflowing energy and vibrant personality.
Interactions with the artist and her works continued all the way through the night, and it is safe to say everyone had a memorable day with art.
“Wish Full Thinking” by Tanja Djokic ran from 3-11 May 2025.
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Crossover 2025
For the first time in over a decade, Dumaguete once again held Crossover, a unique artistic endeavor centered on an artist residency in Negros Oriental.
A collaborative effort between Mariyah Gallery, Mugna Gallery, and the Foundation University – Department of Fine Arts, Crossover 2025 is comprised of many events designed to activate the local art scene.
At the center is the invited artist-in-residence, Tanja Djokic from Serbia, who was hand-picked by Kitty Taniguchi of Mariyah Gallery.
Djokic held her solo exhibition at Mugna Gallery, entitled “Wish Full Thinking” from 3-11 May 2025. Meanwhile, workshops were held at Foundation University from 5-8 May 2025, under the helm of Dumaguete visual artists Dyke Cediño and Totem Saa, where college and senior high school students explored artmaking through the duo’s “Well’s Ladder Method,” as well as through Virtual Reality (VR). The resulting works from the workshops comprise the exhibition “in form/in spirit” mounted at The Henry Gallery Dumaguete, running from 9-31 May 2025.
Taking the chance to share her expertise, Djokic also served as a panelist in the thesis defense of the graduating batch of FU Fine Arts students. She was also the guest of honor at a special lunch hosted by Atelier Aguila’s Karl Aguila in Siaton, followed by a special tour of Dumaguete visual artist Danni Sollesta’s Uma Art Studio, also in Siaton.
As her residency came to a close, a thanksgiving dinner was held at Mariyah Gallery on 12 May 2025, attended by Djokic, college and high school students, and local artists and creatives.
It was a truly eventful residency which set the stage for future projects that bridge Dumaguete to the greater artistic community outside.
