”I hope we will slow down, that we will pay more attention to both people and nature, that we will value health and life on this planet more, and that, both as individuals and as governments, we will set the right priorities and act with more humanity.”
What drives you?
Traveling, discovering new places, solving problems.
They are all my children…
Maybe there are some similarities, but children can be boring at times, too sweet at other times, and sometimes you really have to take care of them. They grow, they change, but you certainly don’t want to part with them. My paintings are fragments and torn-off pieces of me. They are independent and grown-up, and I want them to travel the world and tell their story.
What else do you do?
I try to take care of both mind and body almost equally. I really love sports — gym, swimming, and above all, horseback riding. I write, I read, and I’ve been going to psychotherapy for a long time.
What should an artist possess — qualities and skills?
Great courage to bare their emotions and thoughts while preserving a childlike honesty.
An artist must never be fake!
Criticism? Who and what can influence your work? …the presentation or placement of your work?
When I was starting out, there were artists and professors I admired, who could be called my role models, and their work and critique meant a lot to me — but that changed a long time ago. Now, I enjoy long conversations with colleagues and friends, brainstorming sessions.
Who is your superhero? Who are today’s superheroes?
Today’s heroes are all those who have managed to find peace and stability without losing their empathy, humanity, and solidarity. Heroes are those who work diligently and enjoy the fruits of their labor in everyday, simple life.
Heroes love, radiate energy, and don’t judge.
What does isolation mean to you?
Right now we’re living under prescribed isolation, hoping to curb the virus as soon as possible and return to a normal way of functioning. I’ve turned my apartment into a studio, a gym, a restaurant — and I spend all my time inside. I paint, make sketches, read, cook, and keep in touch with friends via video calls.
It’s completely normal for everyone to react differently, to have good days and bad days. If someone can work and be productive, that’s great — and if they can’t, that’s fine too. If someone is afraid, that’s okay as well, because above all, this isn’t just a chosen isolation for self-improvement or professional and personal advancement.
Right now, the collective takes precedence over the individual.
What good can come out of this situation?
I’m not the type of person who finds the silver lining in everything at any cost. Many things will change, and we will change — perhaps we’ll abandon some habits forever, I don’t know. But I do know that this is the greatest global turning point since World War II.
I hope we will slow down, pay more attention to both people and nature, value health and life on this planet more, and that, as individuals and as governments, we will set the right priorities and act with greater humanity.
Do you have a TV at home?
I haven’t had one for the past 15 years.
Do you listen to the radio?
I spend a lot of time in the car, and I love driving… you see, my car is like a child to me 🙂 I always listen to the radio wherever I am. As I pass through cities or countries, the stations change, and I love that — it gives me another way to connect with the place.
Bicycle or sand?
Car, motorcycle, horse, bicycle — and then, if necessary, on foot.
Are you vegan or vegetarian?
Isn’t it fun to say that my favorite dish is a raw steak?
Beer or wine?
Wine.
Do you recycle?
Yes. I’ve even recycled through my art. My most recent major project of this type was my plastic installations for Sustainability Week in Abu Dhabi.
Book / Movie?
Books: The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell, Lust by Elfriede Jelinek, Men by Viktor Erofeev.
Films: Last Tango in Paris, La Grande Bellezza.
And music…?
Shigeru Umebayashi, Claude Debussy, David Bowie, Kraftwerk, Josipa Lisac, OUM.
Recommend a website / portal / app…
DailyArt app, Cats on Instagram (or anything with cat content, forever), Podcast U raljama osećanja, https://www.nitch.com/