”The world in isolation shows one possible transition, that life will become fully digitalized, and true interaction with the real world will remain a privilege. This is some kind of my post-pessimistic vision of the world, which will not actually happen.”
What else do you do?
Even what I do now, I’ve currently reduced to a minimum due to circumstances—so minimal that it could be called a small visual prayer book, or a mantra in miniature form. Besides art, two other things are perfect for me: sports and cooking. Both are sensitive and have a technical connection to art. Sports are an expression of emotion and energy, where the most energy is released. Cooking is always about a certain sense of measure. Art is good when there’s a proper balance and just the minimal seasoning that doesn’t overpower. These are the things I would like to engage in. Of course, research—like reading and similar activities—I count as part of artistic work.
What should an artist possess, in terms of traits and skills?
Today, an artist needs to possess two skills to secure time for art. In this world of obligations, they must juggle and sift trivial time from meaningful time. The second skill is being a diplomat, because everyone has their own intentions and their own constructed ideas about how things should look. The artist has to navigate this, using diplomacy alone, so that not everything is dictated by the immediate values of the moment.
Criticism? Who or what can influence your work? …the distribution of your work?
I think criticism, just for the sake of scoring points in art or the artist, is impossible. There are so many factors that make up productive creation in art that criticism is a very small, almost irrelevant part of the whole.
If criticism is present, it’s important to select only the constructive kind, because all others take away focus. Marketing has always been important; art without it is like an orphan. For me, distribution matters only in terms of where and how the work is presented. One should be moderately accessible and thoughtfully present.
Who is your superhero? Who are today’s superheroes?
In a hedonistic world, heroes aren’t needed; they’re almost unimaginable. To waste life for higher ideals seems somewhat pointless. So, we don’t really connect with those romantic heroes. Today, everything is concrete, and that’s where we can find heroes. Anything that is part of a good, constructive action that doesn’t come at the expense of others is a mark of a hero.
What does isolation mean to you?
For me, a world in isolation shows a possible transition where life becomes fully digitalized, and true interaction with the real world becomes a privilege. This is my somewhat post-pessimistic vision of the world – though I believe it will not actually happen.
Ideally, the world should be open, like large windows without curtains, where each person has their own small universe that corresponds with other worlds.
What good could come out of this situation?
Cosmic communism.
Do you have a TV at home?
No. It seems that even the wider circle of my friends does not own a TV.
Do you listen to the radio?
I do, but not the internet radio you can set to your preference. I like a small device that sits in its unassuming place, yet still attracts attention.
Bicycle or sand?
Those two things are completely incompatible. When you have a bicycle, being a pedestrian is meaningless. Being a pedestrian in the city for recreation is absurd.
Are you vegan or vegetarian?
Vegetarian, for about six years. I wanted to do it much earlier. Because of the Mediterranean cuisine, which includes cheese, it would be difficult to be vegan. Maybe one day.
Beer or wine?
I’m almost an anti-alcohol consumer; I’m happy to taste it occasionally. Sometimes my wife and I spend our last money at home on the cheapest French wine. As for beer, though, maybe it’s easier to find drinkable beer than wine.
Do you recycle?
If I throw away more things, then someone else recycles them; you could say I’m part of that cycle. I like to have as few things as possible.
Book / Movie?
With books, I’m scattered; I read all sorts of things, never finish anything. I find something positive in that, too. The most beautiful movie is In the Mood for Love. Excellent are Béla Tarr’s films and moments of revelation in Tarkovsky’s sequences.
I’ve started consuming the newest Woody Allen films; somehow, they’re like a balm.
And music… Mostly something with a mantra, that is, intoxicating repetition, for example Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Mostly, my wife is the expert for that.
Recommend a site / portal / app…
I would recommend an app where my drawings are, but the app itself turned out terrible—I mean the app, not the drawings.
https://damjankovacevic83.wixsite.com/damjankovacevic