Curator’s Bio

Dragan Nandor Jovanovic (b. 1968, Novi Sad / Neusatz / Újvidék) is a curator and media manager working across the Balkans, Hungary, and Austria. He holds a degree in Public Relations and a B.A. in Media Management, with an academic background in sociology and globalization studies. In international projects, he uses the name Nandor as part of his professional identity.

His expertise in Balkan ethnographic heritage is particularly strong in the field of traditional musical instruments, with additional knowledge of folk costumes, utilitarian objects, and decorative artifacts from the region.

He actively collaborates with artisans and makers across the Balkans and welcomes contact from individuals working in traditional costume making, embroidery, weaving and kilim production, woodcarving, as well as other utilitarian and decorative crafts, ethnographic gifts, and souvenirs.

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Over the years, I have worked closely with master instrument makers and have personally engaged in the crafting of instruments, gaining insight into both traditional methods and contemporary adaptations. I am familiar with the historical construction principles of instruments such as the frula and the gusle, as well as with modern refinements that respond to current performance standards. For a closer look at this dimension of my work, I invite you to visit the Craftsmanship section.

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Alongside his curatorial practice, Nandor has developed a strong, hands-on engagement with artificial intelligence, approaching AI both as a technological medium and as a cultural phenomenon. In parallel with his curatorial work, Nandor has published several books exploring human–AI relationships and the philosophical implications of emerging technologies, including "From AI to BI and Beyond ". In addition to his work on artificial intelligence and human–AI relationships, he has written and published four specialized books on business English for speakers of Chinese, Italian, Spanish and Hungarian seeking to improve their professional communication in English.

This engagement with AI is expected to meaningfully inform and complement his work with traditional ethnographic exhibitions, enabling new forms of presentation, interpretation, and audience engagement through careful application, while preserving the integrity of the exhibited heritage. Building on this approach, Nandor actively invites individuals and organizations engaged in the intersection of artificial intelligence, exhibition design, and gallery environments to explore potential collaboration, particularly in further developing and complementing the presentation of the Balkan Traditions Concept as an integrated curatorial framework.