Kiro Urdin

Kiro Urdin (Macedonian: Киро Урдин; born 1945 in Strumica, Macedonia) is a visual, multimedia artist and film director. He is the artistic founder of the Planetarism movement. He represented France at the French Festival in Tapei, and the Republic of Macedonia at the Thessaloniki - Culture Capital of Europe ’97 event in Greece. His ballet 'Planetarium' (with Debbie Wilson) and his film of the same name were performed at the United Nations 60th Anniversary. He is a member of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Knight Order in the Order of Art and Literature of the French Republic.

Kiro is a citizen of both Macedonia and France.

Early years Kiro Urdin was born May 12, 1945, to Mihail Urdinov (Macedonian: Михаил Урдинов) and Makedonka (Македонка). He is the youngest of 5 children: brothers - Kostadin (1930) – a writer, Dragan (1932) – an innovator, Vasil (1935) – sculptor, gallery and restaurant owner), and a sister Katarina (1941).

Kiro initially set out to be a lawyer. He graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School in 1969. From 1971-1973 he worked as a journalist.

In October 1973 he moved to Paris and painted tourists, since he was doing it without permission his work permit was taken. It was at that point he decided to make painting his life.

Also a monograph with photos taken during the two-year trip by Marin Dimevski, was released simultaneously with the movie.

Today the painting is in courtesy of the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum in Bratislava.

Collaboration with choreographer Debbie Wilson Urdin was in the process of taking his painting, Planetarium, to more than 30 countries, and he would add dabs of colour in each new locale. After seeing the painting choreographer Debbie Wilson approached Kiro and proposed to expand the Planetarium experience through a new medium – dance. Macedonian composer Venko Serafimov was called on board to compose the music for the dance. The dance features eight dancers from Wilson’s own troupe, a local Toronto contemporary dance company, and seven from the classically trained Macedonian National Theatre. In an interview for Now Toronto, Debbie admits this kind of setup made the show something of a logistical nightmare.

Planetarium dance premiered in Toronto Dance Theater, Canada, and since it has been performed in Ohrid, Heraclea, Skopje, Chicago, Ankara, and during the commemoration of the United Nations 60th anniversary in Geneva.

Planetarism and Beyond Kiro’s work has evolved beyond traditional media like film and paintings to include dance, sculpture, literature, photography, philosophy and design. So far, Kiro has published 15 books with aphorisms, one book of poetry entitled ‘Novel’. ‘Light’, a poem from the book was selected for the Pushkin Festival in Moscow.

Kiro has been driven in his efforts by one unifying philosophy: to bridge different cultures together, and to bring all art forms into one. Or as he puts it into his own words, as he defines the slogan of the Planetarism movement: “One Point everywhere, everything in one point. One Art everywhere, everything in one Art.” Year Title Festival Award Status 1998 Planetarium 38th Festival de TV de Monte-Carlo Best Documentary 2005 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Best Documentary 2012 Vaasa International Nature Film Festival Terranova Artistic Award 2008 Water and Fire International Film Festival Jahorina Grand Prix 2009 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Best International Director of a Documentary 2009 Best Cinematography 2009 European Film Festival Green Wave Grand Prix 2009 International Film Festival Ohrid Grand Prix 2005 Dogona Rose Dor Official selection 2012 European Film Festival Green Wave Special Jury Award 2012 Two Times China International Animal and Nature Film Festival Best Natural Environment Film 2012 Vaasa International Nature Film Festival The Ostrobothnia Australis Award