Four years ago, I arrived in Gardinovci with a dream—to create a place in nature where artists could come together, share, and create something meaningful. I was welcomed by neighbors who taught me about the seasons, the land, and the beauty of village life.

With help from a local artist and now good friend, Smiljana Čurić, who shared a similar dream, and with the support of many volunteers—Serbian, Israeli, and Russian—we developed a free program that connects local and international artists with the people of the village. Over two years, hundreds of moments of connection have been created: portraits taken, stories shared, friendships formed.

Recently, some hurtful things have been said about our residency. A public shaming campaign has been launched against us, spreading unchecked and false information, by some individuals in the Novi Sad artistic community, accusing us for collaborating with the Israeli Embassy in Serbia.

I want to speak honestly:

We are a small, independent, non-profit project. Our financial ties to the Israeli Embassy are limited to covering the travel costs and lodging for Israeli participants in the 1st and 2nd International Photo Collective. This modest help allowed us to keep the program alive and bring artists to Gardinovci, where they could share and connect with the local community—something we are grateful for.

We have no involvement or connection to any government policies or actions.
We were never asked to promote any political agenda or the Embassy itself.
From the beginning, we have been transparent about this support in our open calls.

As human beings, we share the grief over what’s happening in Gaza and Israel. We recognize that both Israelis and Palestinians are experiencing unimaginable pain. We are not indifferent to this. Above all, I wish that this unnecessary war and the human tragedy it causes would end.

People spreading hatred and shaming messages about us—without ever reaching out directly—are not bringing peace or helping anyone in Gaza or Israel. They are only fueling destruction and disconnection. We’ve even received messages telling us we should be ashamed of ourselves and our work. Some of our participants now feel threatened just because they joined a program located 35 kilometers from Novi Sad. This kind of targeting achieves nothing positive—it only harms and divides. It doesn’t help or heal; it only causes more damage.

Our mission has always been simple: to connect, not divide. We believe in art as a bridge between people, even during difficult times. This residency exists because of love, trust, and shared effort. Every person involved volunteers their time—no one is paid, and some even contribute from their own pockets.

It takes years to build something meaningful, but it can be destroyed in a day.
Let’s choose to build together.

If you have questions or concerns, please come and ask us directly.
Let’s speak face to face, human to human. We are always ready for dialogue.

Efim Graboy
Founder, Vice Versa Triangle