Jana Vasiljevic is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in storytelling and illustration, as well as community arts. Born to a Serbian father and West-Flemish mother, the different cultural backgrounds and experiences always had a great influence on her practice, both in terms of form and content. In her work Jana alternates between an independent practice, intimate works with focus on personal stories and collaborative practises, in which she activates and participates in communal projects that she considers to be of a wider importance for our communities.

“Kuvarice manje zbori da ti ručak ne zagori”
(Housewife, less babbling, or your lunch will end up burning)

Kuvarica* or Domaćica is a piece of embroidered white cloth, which was typical for most households in Serbia and neighbouring countries at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was often seen hanging in the kitchen, above the stove, to catch grease and other food from cooking and some could also be found in bathrooms or above beds. They were acquired at markets and fairs, already with a drawing and obligatory message placed on the cloth with a light pencil. As such, they were bought and then embroidered by hand by women and young girls who were learning needlework, with a blue or red thread. After embroidering, they were washed and starched stiff, then hung on the wall.

What defined Kuvarica and separated them from other types of embroidery were the drawings and accompanying text they represented - a blue or red line drawing, illustrating the household life and situations, with a decorative frame of flowers, fruits or birds. Most often depicted was a housewife in her usual environment, standing over a stove, sometimes her husband is there in the kitchen as well; or
a young couple in nature, going to the water well… The text, which was written
in rhyme, would frequently give the occupants and guests some advice on good manners, stable marriage, hygiene, relationship advice, and most often (since the kuvarice were almost always on view for the housewife) advice on how to maintain a good household.

Vredna domaćica blago je u kući, milina je kod nje u kuhinju ući
(A hard working housewife is a real treasure, to enter her kitchen is such a pleasure)

Najveća sreća za muža je kad žena kuhati znade sve
(A husband's greatest bliss is a great cook as his miss)

Ja sam kuvarica mlada, zato ne znam još kuvat sada
(I’m a young cook still, but learn how to cook soon I will)

Kuvarice skuvaj ručak fino, pa ćeš dobiti novac za kino
(Wife, cook a meal that is exquisite and you will get money for a cinema visit)

Žena koja muža čuva, njemu dobar ručak kuva
(A good wife that cares for her husband and mate will always serve a delicious meal
on his plate)

When going through all of the things from my grandmother Ljiljana’s apartment after she died, I found a whole bag full of Kuvaricas, finished and unfinished, most of which were made by her mother and my great-grandmother, Živana, almost a century ago and some of which were from my grandmother. The pride and skill that came with needlework was always very cherished in my family and some of our dearest inheritance. My grandmother never was a submissive housewife in my eyes, but took on and understood the responsibilities and burden that came with the traditional family, and with raising children (and later grandchildren), seeing that as the only joy that came out of her marriage. This is for me also represented by the one smaller Kuvarica that shows four children (probably my brother, sisters and me) in the snow on skis.

I endeavoured to finish the unfinished Kuvarices, to bring them into our times, do away with the submissive and patronising rhymes that used to decorate them and voice more equal and empathetic preferable behaviour in a household and in our communities.

*Kuvarica is also the word for a female cook, and for a cookbook.

Curatorial work