KVART BW BUL. VUDROA VILSONA 12 GALERIJA
IZLOŽBA SLIKA THE BLUE PILL ALEKSANDRE KOKOTOVIĆ
KVART BW BUL. VUDROA VILSONA 12 GALERIJA
IZLOŽBA SLIKA THE BLUE PILL ALEKSANDRE KOKOTOVIĆ
KVART IZLOŽBA KVART Belgrade Waterfront je kulturno-umetnička inicijativa koja podržava razvoj stvaralaštva i kreativne produkcije u prestonici. Zamišljen kao koncept koji okuplja kreativce, KVART daje novi impuls energije kulturnom životu Beograda. Pod okriljem KVARTA odvijaju se umetničke aktivnosti koje obogaćuju kulturnu ponudu Belgrade Waterfront-a, Beograda i cele Srbije. Program obuhvata saradnju sa etabliranim i umetnicima u usponu, kako iz Srbije tako i iz inostranstva u vidu izložbi, koncerata, pozorišnih predstava, opera kao i drugih događaja iz kulture. Cilj KVARTA Belgrade Waterfront-a je da podrži srpsku savremenu umetničku scenu, ali i da stvori nove prilike i prostor za kreativno izražavanje. Kao jedan od nosilaca kreativne energije u Beogradu, program okuplja slikare, vajare, umetnike i inovatore čiji rad predstavlja sinergiju sa novom gradskom oblašću na obali Save.
ALEKSANDRA KOKOTOVIĆ
Vizuelna umetnica koja svoj rad izražava kroz slikarstvo, vajarstvo, crtež, grafiku, performans i instalacije. Priredila je 35 samostalnih izložbi u renomiranim institucijama, muzejima i galerijama u Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama, Srbiji, Bosni i Hercegovini, Severnoj Makedoniji, Crnoj Gori, Havajima … Priredila je i samostalne izložbe po pozivu na nekim od najvažnijih festivala umetnosti i kulture; XXXVII Festival Sarajevska zima, 69-i kulturni festival Slovo Gorčina u Stocu, 70-i Internacionalni umetnički i kulturni festival Mostarsko ljeto, Ljeto u muzeju Historijski muzej Bosne i Hercegovine u Sarajevu, Evropski Dani kulturne baštine u Narodnoj biblioteci Srbije u Beogradu, Evropski Dani kulturne baštine u Muzeju grada Negotino u Severnoj Makedoniji, Noć muzeja u galeriji Lazar Vozarević u Sremskoj Mitrovici. Učestvovala je na preko 60 grupnih žiriranih izložbi u Srbiji, Litvaniji, BiH, Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama, Poljskoj, Bugarskoj, Ujedinjenim Arapskim Emiratima, Albaniji, Maldivima, Egiptu ... U martu 2020. godine, izabrana je ispred Bosne i Hercegovine, za predstavnicu na velikoj međunarodnoj izložbi “ART CONNECTS WOMEN – Each for Equal” u Dubaiju, na kojoj je učestvovala zajedno sa 100 umetnica iz 100 različitih zemalja sveta. Izložba je održana u galeriji Arabian Court u One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai. Trenutno živi i stvara između dva kontinenta, Sjedinjenih Američkih Država i Srbije. Diplomirala je na Accademia del Lusso. U statusu je samostalnog umetnika. Prvu internacionalnu nagradu za slikarstvo dobila je sa deset godina. Jedan od projekata na kome je radila kao kustos tokom 2020/21 godine je umetnički koncept Botanica by Art Hotel. Aleksandrin rad ispituje ljudsku egzistenciju i duhovnost, nadahnjujući samorefleksiju i dovodeći u pitanje društvene norme na tu temu. Članstva: Udruženje likovnih umetnika Srbije (ULUS); Udruženje likovnih umetnika Bosne i Hercegovine (ULUBIH); Umetničko udruženje Diversus Visum (DivArt)
KONCEPT
Privlačnost duhovnog buđenja i prosvetljenja bila je sveprisutna u svakoj civilizaciji kroz vekove; pak, sa obnovljenim ideologijama prošlosti, čovečanstvo nastavlja da se bori i da se hvata u koštac sa stvarnošću. Ljudsko postojanje se stalno dovodi u pitanje, dok se suočavamo sa naizgled neobjašnjivim tragedijama i teškoćama, pokušavamo da se izborimo ili sa znanjem ili sa neznanjem. Bitka između to dvoje nikada ne prestaje, stvarajući unutrašnju neravnotežu u pojedincu i rezultirajući podelom unutar društva. Naše društvo nas deli površno, jer smo kategorisani na osnovu statusa, etničke pripadnosti, religije, politike, itd. Svi smo jedno, ali još nismo shvatili ovu istinu i tako kroz strah pokušavamo da pojednostavimo ono što ne razumemo. Pitamo se da li su stvarnost, istina i znanje vredni tog traganja. Realnost, istina i znanje su moć, i mi se borimo da preuzmemo tu odgovornost i teret, stoga izbegavamo istinu i tražimo spoljne inhibitore da nas drže u stalnom stanju blaženog neznanja. Koncept „plave pilule“ i „crvene pilule“ je utkan u kulturu društva kroz filozofiju i opipljivo kroz farmaceutske proizvode. „Plava pilula“ inhibira stvarnost, dok „crvena pilula“ budi istinu; sa „crvenom pilulom“, biramo spremnost da saznamo istinu koja bi mogla da nas uznemiri ili nam promeni život, dok sa „plavom pilulom“ biramo da ostanemo u zadovoljnom neznanju.
Ekspresivne, slojevite, apstraktne slike Aleksandre Kokotović istražuju unutrašnji sukob koji doživljavamo kao ljudska bića, nastojeći da postanemo celi, preispitujući naše postojanje i svoja osnovna uverenja. Inspirisana ljudskim postojanjem, „Plava pilula“ je paradoks između znanja i neznanja. „Plava pilula“ se u društvu smatra inhibitorom matrice, ali subjekti Kokotovićkinih slika su nesputani i vansadržajni. Posmatrač je tako pozvan da sam stvori sopstvenu istinu. Njene slike uključuju sugestije eteričnih i anđeoskih figurativnih formi unutar intenzivnih prolaza apstrakcije i unutar eksperimentalnih linija i oblika. Prigušena površina uparena sa upotrebom sporadičnih živih boja ili geometrijskih elemenata igra se temama zemaljskog i nebeskog, i odražava mnoge intimne zamršenosti uma. Kao naklon nadrealizmu, Kokotovićkin rad nastoji da oslobodi kreativni potencijal nesvesnog uma. Njen opseg je širok, jer transformiše svoj rad u visoko personalizovane medije sa jednim, jedinstvenim glasom izražavanja. Njena upotreba apstrakcije je zamršeno inspirisana ljudskim duhovnim putovanjem i potragom za dostizanjem višeg ja. U istom duhu, njen rad je svedočanstvo o Svesti, obuhvatajući sve dimenzije prostora, materije i vremena, jer njene slike izazivaju posmatrača da pogleda van našeg materijalnog sveta. U „Crnac, azijat i belac na astralnom nivou“, Kokotović reinterpretira normalizovane, kategorisane i definisane etničke grupe današnjeg društva. Tema Kokotovićkinog remek-dela izaziva naše norme, izvan etničke pripadnosti, ujedinjujući nas kao jedno telo, um i dušu – u tom cilju tri centralne figure su prikazane u istoj šemi boja, redefinišući i dovodeći u pitanje neophodnost razlikovanja etničkih grupa. Komadi su besprekorno naslovljeni i deluju kao još jedan paradoks između onoga što posmatrač gleda i onoga što posmatrač čita. Ovo je namerno, da otvori radoznali um, dozvoljavajući nam da slobodno mislimo i osećamo u drugoj dimenziji. Njeni potezi kistom su istovremeno spontani i orkestrirani, jer ona briljantno stvara delove teksture suprotstavljene glatkom završnom obradom, što savršeno ilustruje transcendentalno stanje, inspirišući posmatrača da sa
strahopoštovanjem i čudom razmišlja o nepoznatom svetu, u sebi i izvan njega. Jaki potezi, upareni sa pero-lakim i lazurnim, rezultiraju iluzijom subjekta koji nestaje, dok podebljane linije usidravaju predmet da ne izroni iz samog platna. Njena upotreba linearnih linija strateški prožima njen rad, stvarajući smirenost i spokoj. Često sežući izvan platna, linearna linija takođe poziva posmatrača da otvori svoj um dalje izvan fizičkog, trenutno posmatranog rada u kontemplativno stanje nalik snu ili meditaciji. Kokotovićkin izbor palete boja je takođe paradoks između koncepta „plave pilule” i „crvene pilule”. Pretežno hladnih nijansi, paleta koju koristi u seriji je mirna i simbolična aludirajući na harmonizaciju uma, tela i duše. Njeni subjekti su maštoviti, ali utemeljeni u istini; ona uključuje figuracije anonimnih i enigmatičnih bića sa oreolom u belom pored geometrijskih, sanjivih pejzaža, koji naizgled postoje u našim sopstvenim snovima i majstorski se izražavaju u budnom životu kroz svaki potez Kokotovićkine četkice. Kristin A. Buechelmaier Magistar istorije umetnosti i biznisa umetnosti i kolekcionarstva Sotheby’s New York
Black, Asian and Cocasian in Astral level, 150x130cm, oil on canvas
Kristina, Mohammed and David in Causal level, 150x130cm, oil on canvas
She, Him and They being One, 150x130cm, oil on canvas
The New Beginning, 120x140cm, oil on canvas
Astonishing Mystery, 120x140cm, oil on canvas
Transitional moment, 120x140cm, oil on canvas
Order can arise from chaos, 150x130cm, oil on canvas
Breath of Fantasy, 130x150cm, oil on canvas
The Matrix, 120x140cm, mixed media on canvas
The One, 150x130cm, oil on canvas
The Comfort of the Blue Pill, 150x130cm, oil on canvas
The Red Pill - Rising, 150x130cm, oil on canvas
The Return of Light, 150x130cm, oil on canvas
ALEKSANDRA KOKOTOVIĆ
is an independent visual artist, expressing through paintings, sculptures, graphics, drawings, performances, installations,... She have organized 35 solo exhibitions in renewed institutions, museums and galleries in Florida, Washington DC, Hawaii, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro,… Also, she had solo exhibitions by the invitation from some of the most important art festivals: European Days of Culture Heritage in the National Library of Serbia in Belgrade, Summer at the Museum of History of Bosnia and Herzegovina, International Art Festival Mostar Summer, XXXVVII Sarajevo Winter Festival, 69th Slovo Gorčina Cultural Festival in Stolac, European Days of Cultural Heritage at the Museum of City of Negotino in Northern Macedonia and Museum Night in Lazar Vozarevic Galley. She participated in 60 group jury exhibitions in Lithuania, Poland, Maldives, United Stated, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Bulgaria, United Arabic Emirates, Egypt... In March 2020, she was elected on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a representative of large international exhibition “ART CONNECTS WOMEN - Each for Equal” in Dubai, which she participated in together with 100 artists from 100 different countries. The exhibition was held at the Arabian Court Gallery in One&Only Royal Mirage. She’s currently bicontinental between the United States and Serbia. Kokotović graduated from the Accademia del Lusso. She received her first international award for painting at the age of 10. One of the concepts she worked on as a curator during 2020/21 is the art project for the Botanica by Art Hotel. Aleksandra’s work examines human existence and spirituality, inspiring self-reflection and challenging social norms on the subject. Memberships: Association of Fine Artists of Serbia (ULUS) Association of Fine Artists of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ULUBIH) Diversus Visum Art Association (DivArt)
CONCEPT
The attraction to spiritual awakening and enlightenment has been omnipresent in every civilization throughout the ages; yet with renewed ideologies of the past, humanity continues to struggle to come to grips with reality. Human existence is constantly called into question, as we face seemingly unexplainable tragedies and hardships, we attempt to cope with either knowledge or with ignorance. The battle between the two never ceases, creating an internal imbalance in the individual and resulting in division amongst societies. Our society divides us superficially, as we are categorized based on status, ethnicity, religion, politics, etc. We are all one, yet we have not yet realized this truth and thus through fear we attempt to simplify what we do not understand. We find ourselves questioning whether reality, truth, knowledge is worth pursuing. Reality, truth, knowledge is power, and we grapple with the responsibility and the burden therefore, we avoid the truth and look to external inhibitors to keep us in a constant state of blissful ignorance. The concept of the “blue pill” and the “red pill” is woven into society’s culture through philosophy and tangibly through pharmaceuticals. The “blue pill” inhibits reality, while the “red pill” awakens the truth; with the “red pill”, a choice between the willingness to learn potentially unsettling or life-changing truth or with the “blue pill”, to remain in contented ignorance.
Aleksandra Kokotovic’s expressive, layered, abstract paintings, explores the internal conflict that we experience as human beings, striving to become whole, questioning our existence and our fundamental beliefs. Inspired by human existence, Blue Pill is a paradox between knowledge and ignorance. The “blue pill” is referenced in society as inhibiting knowledge yet the subjects of her work are uninhibited. The observer is thus challenged to create their own truth. Kokotovic’s works include suggestions of ethereal and angelic figurative forms within intense passages of abstraction and within experimental lines and shapes. The subdued surface coupled with the use of sporadic vibrant colors, or geometric elements, play upon themes of the earthly and the celestial, and reflects the many intimate intricacies of the mind. As a nod to Surrealism, Kokotovic’s work seeks to unleash the creative potential of the unconscious mind. Her scope is wide-ranging, as she transforms her work into highly personalized mediums with one, singular voice of expression. Her use of abstraction is intricately inspired by the human spiritual journey and the quest for reaching a higher self. In the same spirit, her work is a testimony to the Consciousness, encompassing all the dimensions of space, matter and time, as her paintings dare the observer to look outside our material world. In “Black, Asian and Caucasian in Astral Level”, Kokotovic re-interprets the normalized, categorized and defined ethnicities of today’s society. The subject of Kokotovic’s masterpiece challenges our norms, beyond ethnicity, uniting us as one body, mind and soul - to that end, three central figures are depicted in the same color scheme, redefining and questioning the necessity to distinguish ethnicities. The pieces are impeccably titled and act as another paradox between what the observer is viewing and what the observer is reading. This is intentional, to open the curious mind, allowing us to freely think and feel in another dimension. Kokotovic’s brushstrokes are simultaneously spontaneous and orchestrated, as she brilliantly creates areas of
texture juxtaposed with a smooth finish, which perfectly illustrates the transcendental state, inspiring the observer to reflect in awe and wonder of a world unknown both internally, within oneself, and externally. Thick strokes, paired with feathery and watery washes, result in the illusion of the subject disappearing while bold lines anchor the subject from emerging from the canvas itself. Her use of the linear line is strategically placed throughout her work, creating calmness and tranquility. Often reaching beyond the canvas, her linear line also calls for the observer to expand their minds away from the physical, present work in-view to a contemplative dream-like, meditative state. Kokotovic’s choice of color palette is also a paradox between the concept of the “blue pill” and the “red pill”. Predominantly in cool hues, the palette she uses in the series is tranquil and symbolic alluding to the harmonization of the mind, body, and soul. Her subjects are imaginative yet grounded in truth; she includes figurations of anonymous and enigmatic beings haloed in white alongside geometric, dreamy scapes, which seemingly exist within our own dreams and is masterfully expressed in the waking-life through each stroke of Kokotovic’s paintbrush. Kristin A. Buechelmaier Master in the History and Business of Art & Collecting Sotheby’s New York
IZLOŽBA
BEOGRAD, januar 2022.