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

Traditionally modern :)

It always inspire me so much to see some of the ethno-folk hand-crafted items.
And I am so happy to see that these traditional, ethnic, elements are so modern and trendy, especially these days. There are many fashion designers using folk, ethnic, tapestry items as inspiration for theirs creations.





These are some shoots I took today, passing by the Ethnographic Museum here in Belgrade.



There is also a fantastic exhibition : “Memory Update - Ornaments of Serbian Medieval Frescoes”  at The Museum of Applied Art featuring many gorgeous Serbian ornaments.

There is a beautiful video on Vimeo  about the making of the exhibition - created by my friend Piki that I strongly suggest you to watch.

Memory Update from Osvežavanje memorije on Vimeo.

Hope that this may be inspiring to you as well:)
I took many pics at the exhibition myself and will make a separate post about it.

Happy February,
Katarina

Snowy

Hey everyone! We are finally into real winter here, and seeing all white through the windows is somehow so strange to me. But beautiful to look at. :)

 

Obviously, kids are really happy about the possibility to enjoy  some activities on the snow, at last.

I am working on some new, exciting projects and can't wait to share them with you!
xo, Katarina

Workshop with Marcella Brancaforte

Last week we had the pleasure of being involved in the great workshop held at the Museum of Applied Art in Belgrade and conducted by fantastic Italian illustrator Marcella Brancaforte
It was offered by the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade







The kids had pleasure of listening the old Sicilian fairy tale "La Bella dalla stella d'Oro", looking at Marcella's gorgeous illustrations from the book and drawing something that was related with the story.





The workshop was organized as part of the 48th Children's October Salon, where my sister's sons got the first award;)

Living in a fairytale

The school is over, but we are still into some final preschool performances with our 6 year old one. As this is her final year in the kindergarten or preschool, she took part in this year's performance that was the adaptation of "Cinderella". Here are some shoots I took that day...our way from home to the theater (where it was held)....and during the performance. The theater is nearby, so I was just walking or chasing the kids on the streets, enjoying the spring sights in the city:)



The performance was great and we had a blast!









xx, Katarina

Mikser 2013

MIKSER is the biggest regional festival of creativity, it is the multidisciplinary event, that combines a fair design, talent area, interdisciplinary educational conference, art shows and summer music festival. It's always nice to enjoy at least some of the events;)





See some more inspirational posts about previous Mikser festivals:
2009
2010
Gradstor 2010
2011
2011



Since last year, they made quite a difference with relocating the festival from the industrial setting of Žitomlin production facility to one of the oldest neighborhoods in Belgrade – Savamala. This marked a change in the program structure, as the festival is now being scattered over a number of locations, instead of just one.
And looking at my previous entries regarding Mikser, I just realized that was enabled to attend it, as I was very busy doing something more important (and can't wait to share more of it soonish)






If you live in Belgrade and be sure to visit it(if you already haven't) till tomorrow,
Katarina

Under the 0

A big excuse for my lack of posting lately...I've been so busy with several things and just couldn't find enough time to blog.....I have 2 tutorial posts half finished and hope to post at least one of them during this week. One will be for the boys tie and bonus project-softie ball and the other for this lovely baby cloth book.



Anyway, as you may notice from the first picture, the winter finally hit us here and the temperatures are deeply under the 0....so freezing and not very inviting, but homemade stuff is keeping us busy and warm:)

You can see some more handmade stuff @ our shop related blog
xx
Katarina

Dino fun

I am sure that some of you following my blog, know very well that my son is totally obsessed with Dinosaurs. I think that the only thing that he don't like about them is that they are gone and that they don't exist anymore. And each time we have to see and visit some Dino related stuff and exhibition, he would ask - "But will there be real Dinosaurs?"
Anyway, this image above is the black and white and very stylized version of the Watercolor drawing I made during this summer for the tee shirts, that will be very soon available in the shop. He loves it. And I can't wait to have them. I will certainly have the little giveaway here as soon as they will be ready.



We visited the Dino exhibition organized here, in Belgrade, at UŠĆE, near the Museum of Modern Art and it was very nice. There were 52 life-sized dinosaurs at 16,000 square meters and were made under strict control of experts from Paleontological Institute from Hanover, Germany.















Beside the dinos, it is lovely to see and enjoy all those yellowish fall leaves, isn't it? More yellowish loveliness in my next post;)
xo,
Katarina