Turbofolk: meet the Belgrade artist putting Serbian pop on canvas

For decades, turbofolk — high octane Serbian pop laced with traditional Balkans music — has been shunned as a kitsch dance-floor filler.

But now, the genre is opening up new space for expression, with artists such as Belgrade-born Aleksandar Denic finding ways to explore this mainstream pop culture.

Combining his love of music with a passion for portraiture, Denic has painted some of the country’s biggest stars. His work, like turbofolk itself, is a blend of old and new: mixing traditional Orthodox iconography with famous figures from Serbia’s present.

To read a full interview with Denic on Balkan Insight, click here.