Turbo Dioxide (TO2)

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.