From the noise of war to the magic of music, Serbian artist transforms weapons into musical instruments

Nikola Macura makes musical instruments with war material, thus converting objects of destruction into musical means of creation.

Serbian sculptor Nikola Macura makes musical instruments with war material, thus converting objects of destruction into means of creating musical sounds.

The weapons that caused thousands of deaths in the wars in the former Yugoslavia, take on new life in the hands of the Serbian artist Nikola Macura, who transforms them into wonderful musical instruments with the intention of sensitizing people to peace and to love. With his project "From noise to sound" the distressing noises of war are left behind, and the war material becomes music.

From the noise of war to the magic of music, Serbian artist transforms weapons into musical instruments

His first instruments, built in 2014 during an art workshop organized by the Vojvodina Museum, were made using military props. For the artist it is essential to be inspired, confronted and find materials in the places near him, and considering that unfortunately there is still no shortage of military waste in Serbia, he decided to reuse them in a project that represented the antithesis of war.

“I decided to try to use rifle helmets and other military equipment that I am sadly surrounded by and which represent the time I grew up as a material. The idea of transforming weapons into sound objects stems from my determination to face the aggressiveness and destruction of society in my works, particularly pronounced in the Balkans, where I live ”, says Macura.

This commendable artistic project does not stop only at the creation of musical instruments, Nikola would like to form a traveling orchestra and offer his creations to musicians to try them out and "build" music together with them. A real mobile sound installation consisting of violin, trumpet, guitar, cello, percussion set and other musical instruments.

“By redesigning military props - such as rifles, helmets, missiles - into sound objects, the sound they carry is also redesigned. From noise to sound, from sound to music ”, explains the Serbian artist.

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Weapons make you live in fear, music has the opposite effect and is a symbol of freedom. Thank you Nikola Macura for bringing a great message of peace and hope with your musical instruments.