WHEN I WAS A STUDENT WITH PROF. LIDIJA GEORGIEVA: IN THE 80’S IT WAS A PRESTIGE TO BE ACCEPTED AT THE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

It is a classic example of natural professional orientation. She painted from an early age, when she still did not know what fashion design was. In those wonderful moments, she was isolated in her own magical world, where she could tell stories, create characters, imagine their lives – this is how Lidija Georgieva, a professor at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy in Skopje and a fashion designer, begins her student story.

She enrolled at the Faculty of Fine Arts in the field of graphics with a fashion creation in the academic year 1983/84.

It was prestigious to enter the Faculty of Fine Arts

– Тhe Faculty of Fine Arts was a young faculty in the period when I took the entrance exam, there was a lot of competition, but not only from my generation, but also from older students who waited for years for the Academy of Fine Arts to open, so it was quite difficult, but also prestigious to enter. What I learned at Graphics I’m constantly using in fashion, those who follow my work know that there are a lot of prints in my collections, which I do with pleasure and ease – Georgieva recalls.

The professor also came up with a plan B, in case they don’t accept her at the Academy of Fine Arts, to enroll in the Faculty of Philology – English language, for which she says that it would surely be a very different way of life for her.

Best student of the generation

She was declared a student of the generation in 1988. She was surprised when she received the news, she did not know that there was such a thing.

“I was honored, of course, and that recognition among other criteria, at a competition at the Yugoslav level a few months later, helped me to get a scholarship from the French government,” she recalled.

When asked what kind of student she was, whether dedicated and fulfilling, Georgieva answers:

-I finished high school in “Korchagin”, and that means everything you already know about that high school. I don’t think there was a day that I didn’t show up to college or a lecture. Not that it was any torture for me, on the contrary – I discovered a new, wonderful universe of art and did everything I thought I should, without any dilemma. It took me about 25 minutes to get there every morning, whether it was raining or snowing, so I was walking to college enjoying the music I was listening on my Walkman. This sounds like I was a “nerd”, but believe me, I wasn’t, it was just new, interesting and exciting, as I thought life would be. When I think about it, even today I am not far from that perception, I only have a few “head hits” on the go – says the professor.

The Old Skopje Bazaar was the best place to hang out

It was especially nice for her that her colleagues at the Faculty of Fine Arts were all in a pile, unlike the classic amphitheaters.

– Besides the famous canteen of Faculty of Fine Arts back then, we were in the Old Skopje Bazaar, the best place to study and socialize.

It was the same in Paris, there were unforgettable moments. It is a happy circumstance and a privilege for the majority of the faculties of visual arts. At TMF, in the studio where I teach, I insisted two very large working tables to be made, which I put together so that we could all sit in a circle so that the creation could circulate along with the ideas – Georgieva shares.

While she studied, she had engagements as well. She worked as a designer in a textile factory, was an assistant costume designer in the preparatory phase of the series “Trst Via Skopje”, worked on costumes for the film “Dangerous Grandmothers” by Milcho Manchevski, which was filmed seven nights in “Beko” and Srdjan Janikijevic’s first experiments.

– I have made several graphic solutions for packaging products, but it was also interesting for me to edit fashion videos for the show “Cultural Magazine” on MTV1 – Lydia recalls.

The years of study in Skopje for Lydia were the period of the new wave.

Life was carefree, like for all those who were young in the mid 80’s, and exciting, like for someone who is studying creative work. Almost every weekend there were concerts of bands from all over the country, the parties were cheerful, and it was easy to make new friends – all you need was a beautiful smile and an interesting (then we called it weird) look. The world was full of wonderful undiscovered things, and I really thought I would change it. I am very happy that even today, some of the students tell me that they are here to change the world. I was afraid that that idea no longer exists – says Georgieva.

Today I would choose to study gastronomy as well

She says she didn’t have a favorite school subject and she just didn’t function like that.

– If I had to enroll in studies today, in addition to fashion, I would probably choose a strange combination of digital technology, gastronomy, gardening and art. My only concern was Public defense, as this subject was called. I think I also got an allergy on my face when I had to study in detail about weapons and etc. – the professor laughs.

She didn’t have an obsession for high grades, but still, she mostly got A’s.

After graduating in Skopje, she did not want to stop studying. The road took her to Paris, to the fashion house. And it took a period of one year to adapt and get to know the new culture.

Award in Paris

The experience was very different from what we learned here. Studying fashion in the center of fashion is very interesting and enriching. There is no comparison. I was surprised when I won an award at a European competition for young designers for my school. The proclamation ceremony was held at Sorbonne. They pronounced my name with an impossible accent, but of course because I didn’t have any expectations, I think they had to read me twice to realize that I was actually the winner of the award. Since then, some things have changed and I soon received my first job offer – says Georgieva, who lived in Paris for 21 years.

Since 2012, she has been an associate professor at TMF in Skopje.

This period, together with her students, she is facing the challenge of studying from distance. What challenge does she see in this new situation?

Even before we were given a formal framework, I spontaneously organized the first week with the students, so that there would be no interruption in the work. At first we were a little skeptical, there was a decline in motivation, but after a few serious and intense conversations, the students began to show results, even those who are usually weaker and without much ambition. They realized that it could be interesting to learn new things. For them, working from home and intensive personal consultations have influenced creative release and boosted self-confidence. We are now at the end of the semester and I can say that the results are very good. Working with students takes more time than usual because I want to make sure everything is in order. In addition, I have a lot of work with the media, which have shown interest in various analyzes, predictions and conversations with me as an expert – says Georgieva and adds:

Although I have not yet managed to seriously dedicate myself, this is an ideal period for introspection, so I am slowly starting to work on a new collection.

I’ve never been at home so much before, I strictly adhere to the recommendations, so in the necessary hangout with the friends, I enjoy like everyone else – online.