Turbo Dioxide (TO2)

© Filip Bojovic - Protesting against the announcement to implement new cycle of lock downs in Serbia during the Covid 19 pandemic. © Filip Bojovic - The tattoo says "БОГА" god in Serbian Cyrillic script. © Filip Bojovic - Quiet afternoon chat with the police in the hood. View all images ↓
View all images ↓

Turbo Dioxide (TO2) project explores the phenomenon of Balkan hyper-masculine culture, intertwining the historical, religious, political and cultural threads that shape its complex narrative.

Turbo Dioxide is the name of made-up chemical element (TO2) which represents the building block of Serbian people’s DNA. The name of the project illustrates the hybridization of the regional turbo folk subculture that emerged in the late 80s and flourished in the 90s during the Yugoslav wars. Turbo Dioxide documents the aftermath of this subculture, understanding it as some sort of turbo folk on steroids, similar to the ‘Squatting Slav’/Gopnik aesthetic.

The project started by posting images and videos on Instagram; it spontaneously became participatory, as people started to notice these codes and send in similar photographs.

TO2 serves as both a documentation and a critique, questioning societal norms and expectations imposed on Balkan men and it aims to understand the factors that contributed to the ideal of militarized masculinity in the Balkans. Stereotypically, Serbian men are expected to fulfill this male beauty standard through strong and muscular bodies, with certain dress codes, which is followed by a significant amount of mental and physical pressure put on them. Turbo Dioxide might be seen as a social study that recognizes nationalism, religion, and the country’s political-economic contexts as the main factors that contributed to what is seen as a hyper-masculine culture that values physical strength, aggression, and domination.

TO2 is also a captivating journey into the artist's own exploration of identity and a compelling narrative that challenges preconceptions, fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate tapestry of Balkan masculinity. For me, the project is a reinvestigation of male identity – and its roles in patriarchal Balkan society ‘on steroids’, especially in the Serbian context. From the position of a voyeur, I try to demystify this turbo-male image so as to get to know my own alter ego – one that could potentially fulfill social norms and expectations.

© Filip Bojovic - Protesting against the announcement to implement new cycle of lock downs in Serbia during the Covid 19 pandemic.
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Protesting against the announcement to implement new cycle of lock downs in Serbia during the Covid 19 pandemic.

© Filip Bojovic - The tattoo says "БОГА" god in Serbian Cyrillic script.
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The tattoo says "БОГА" god in Serbian Cyrillic script.

© Filip Bojovic - Quiet afternoon chat with the police in the hood.
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Quiet afternoon chat with the police in the hood.

© Filip Bojovic - Like father, like son.
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Like father, like son.

© Filip Bojovic - On the way to open air public gym. Angry.
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On the way to open air public gym. Angry.

© Filip Bojovic - Image from the Turbo Dioxide (TO2) photography project
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Serbs are obsessed with slides, they can be seen everywhere, now even during the winter time. Turbo Dioxide archive features more than 200 photos.

© Filip Bojovic - Image from the Turbo Dioxide (TO2) photography project
© Filip Bojovic - Serbian army man wearing a Serbian Orthodox rosary bracelet.
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Serbian army man wearing a Serbian Orthodox rosary bracelet.

© Filip Bojovic - Boy with phone, after the training, going from the gym.
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Boy with phone, after the training, going from the gym.

© Filip Bojovic - Undercover policeman at anti Pride protest in Belgrade in front of religious counter-protesters.
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Undercover policeman at anti Pride protest in Belgrade in front of religious counter-protesters.

© Filip Bojovic - Image from the Turbo Dioxide (TO2) photography project
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Swimming for the Holy Cross or the Epiphany swimming is a religious and cultural event that takes place every year in January on Epiphany in rivers and lakes across Serbia.

© Filip Bojovic - Man wearing traditional Serbian Orthodox rosary necklace.
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Man wearing traditional Serbian Orthodox rosary necklace.

© Filip Bojovic - Male public nudity in Serbia is a norm. It was a hot summer night though.
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Male public nudity in Serbia is a norm. It was a hot summer night though.

© Filip Bojovic - Proudly using free WIFI Internet and and proudly showing his crotch.
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Proudly using free WIFI Internet and and proudly showing his crotch.

© Filip Bojovic - There are more than 200 photos of public pissing in TO2 archive, all taken from my living room window.
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There are more than 200 photos of public pissing in TO2 archive, all taken from my living room window.

© Filip Bojovic - Grey sweatpants are really popular clothing item in Serbia. Scratching & showing off your naked stomach is also popular.
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Grey sweatpants are really popular clothing item in Serbia. Scratching & showing off your naked stomach is also popular.

© Filip Bojovic - Just getting arrested.
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Just getting arrested.

© Filip Bojovic - Guys in everyday black sporty outfit known as the Uniform.
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Guys in everyday black sporty outfit known as the Uniform.

© Filip Bojovic - All young people look the same.
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All young people look the same.

© Filip Bojovic - Image from the Turbo Dioxide (TO2) photography project
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A street souvenir stall sells Serbian & Russian symbols and Putin T-shirts. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pro-Moscow sentiment has spilled into Serbia's streets. T-shirts with the letter Z, a symbol of Russia's campaign, are now sold as souven

Turbo Dioxide (TO2) by Filip Bojovic

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