PhD exhibition "Pixel in tradition or tradition in pixel"

 

I really don't know why it took me so long to blog about one of the most important things that happened in my life, but better later than never. So here it is...

In 2013, about the same time when I started working with AGF, I enrolled for the PHD program, opened for the first time at the Faculty of Applied arts and design, here in Belgrade. It's the Faculty where I got my Masters degree 18 yrs ago. I was excepted and after 3 years of attending the lessons and doing exams, I picked my theme "Pixel in tradition or tradition in pixel" based on square as main element in art compositions that I was making-whether it was the field of textiles or painting. 

So, finally after written part was accepted, I prepared my exhibition and here are some photos and videos from the opening, in June. 

Here are some of the works from the exhibition, first two are woven textile installations, named "Desa" and "Mica", after my grandmothers.

"Pablo" is the installation with moveable alumina squares on magnetic board.

"Marta" is an installation with 10 cm acrylic painted canvas squares.

Last two are textile collages: "Cherry on the top" and "Indelible"

You can also read my thesis abstract page in English.

The doctoral art project:  Pixel in tradition or tradition in pixel  relies on previous experience in painting, graphics and textile design. It consists of a written paperwork and practical artistic realization. Using traditional techniques: mosaic, acrylic, oil on canvas and patchwork with the introduction of unconventional materials (alumina), the desire and goal is to connect traditional and modern, different areas of art, through the creation of art installations. A square as an element within a given geometric grid is taken as an analog model of a modern digital pixel. A pixel is the smallest distinguishable and resolvable area in an image (in most types of screens it is a square, but it can also be a rectangle), ie the sample of the original image and the smallest controllable picture element displayed on the screen. Accordingly, in the physical world, if the screen is replaced by the surface of the art composition, the smallest controlled element is a square.

The theoretical part of the doctoral project studies the connection and use of the traditional element - square and modern digital pixel, and explains their analog-digital relation, as well as their relationship through the terms traditional and modern. In order to establish an adequate connection between the traditional and the new, certain artworks and artists, who used geometric elements in composing and creating, are systematically analyzed using observation and comparative method. In addition to presenting and connecting theoretical material related to the topic, attention is also focused on resolving the relationship between intuition and rationality as factors in the creative act. The written part of the paper, in addition to the historical overview and the theoretical basis related to the topic, also contains a visual overview of the material, from sketches to finished compositions of the doctoral project.

By using the basic geometric element-square as the main artistic constructional element, the art installations are made as part of the practical work and exhibition. The shape of the square is the starting point for the development of compositions - installations through different materials in the making: painting canvas, alumina and textiles. These materials are not combined with each other, but separate compositions are created of each of these materials, and their spatial combination achieves a unique entity and interaction. Special attention is paid to the installation with an interactive character - a kind of spatial puzzle, which allows the observer to be an active participant in the exhibition, in creating a composition with the offered elements.

xx

Katarina

 

I really don't know why it took me so long to blog about one of the most important things that happened in my life, but better later than never. So here it is...

In 2013, about the same time when I started working with AGF, I enrolled for the PHD program, opened for the first time at the Faculty of Applied arts and design, here in Belgrade. It's the Faculty where I got my Masters degree 18 yrs ago. I was excepted and after 3 years of attending the lessons and doing exams, I picked my theme "Pixel in tradition or tradition in pixel" based on square as main element in art compositions that I was making-whether it was the field of textiles or painting. 

So, finally after written part was accepted, I prepared my exhibition and here are some photos and videos from the opening, in June. 

Here are some of the works from the exhibition, first two are woven textile installations, named "Desa" and "Mica", after my grandmothers.

"Pablo" is the installation with moveable alumina squares on magnetic board.

"Marta" is an installation with 10 cm acrylic painted canvas squares.

Last two are textile collages: "Cherry on the top" and "Indelible"

You can also read my thesis abstract page in English.

The doctoral art project:  Pixel in tradition or tradition in pixel  relies on previous experience in painting, graphics and textile design. It consists of a written paperwork and practical artistic realization. Using traditional techniques: mosaic, acrylic, oil on canvas and patchwork with the introduction of unconventional materials (alumina), the desire and goal is to connect traditional and modern, different areas of art, through the creation of art installations. A square as an element within a given geometric grid is taken as an analog model of a modern digital pixel. A pixel is the smallest distinguishable and resolvable area in an image (in most types of screens it is a square, but it can also be a rectangle), ie the sample of the original image and the smallest controllable picture element displayed on the screen. Accordingly, in the physical world, if the screen is replaced by the surface of the art composition, the smallest controlled element is a square.

The theoretical part of the doctoral project studies the connection and use of the traditional element - square and modern digital pixel, and explains their analog-digital relation, as well as their relationship through the terms traditional and modern. In order to establish an adequate connection between the traditional and the new, certain artworks and artists, who used geometric elements in composing and creating, are systematically analyzed using observation and comparative method. In addition to presenting and connecting theoretical material related to the topic, attention is also focused on resolving the relationship between intuition and rationality as factors in the creative act. The written part of the paper, in addition to the historical overview and the theoretical basis related to the topic, also contains a visual overview of the material, from sketches to finished compositions of the doctoral project.

By using the basic geometric element-square as the main artistic constructional element, the art installations are made as part of the practical work and exhibition. The shape of the square is the starting point for the development of compositions - installations through different materials in the making: painting canvas, alumina and textiles. These materials are not combined with each other, but separate compositions are created of each of these materials, and their spatial combination achieves a unique entity and interaction. Special attention is paid to the installation with an interactive character - a kind of spatial puzzle, which allows the observer to be an active participant in the exhibition, in creating a composition with the offered elements.

xx

Katarina