Drawings of Ivana Živić present sketches for her series of human figures that swim in fantastic water landscapes decorated with eclectic architecture or dreamlike interiors.She takes refracted form of human body in water as her exploration subject and then she removes such body and puts it on the paper
independently from the context that caused deformity. Presence of water is hinted by distortion of form andther result of shading and modulation of form leads to drawing of phantasmagoric creatures that plunge into landscapes of dream and imagination. The colour with which Ivana Živić experiments in her
drawings suggests particular psychological conditions, but it also acts autonomously, formally and as a separate element which interrupts monochrome strokes of pencil and coal.
independently from the context that caused deformity. Presence of water is hinted by distortion of form andther result of shading and modulation of form leads to drawing of phantasmagoric creatures that plunge into landscapes of dream and imagination. The colour with which Ivana Živić experiments in her
drawings suggests particular psychological conditions, but it also acts autonomously, formally and as a separate element which interrupts monochrome strokes of pencil and coal.
Bather, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm.
Bather II, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather III, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather IV, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather,V 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather VI, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather VII, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather VIII, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather IX, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather X, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather XI, 2017 graphite pencil and oil pastel on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Bather, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm.
Bather II, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm.
Bather III, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm.
Bather IV, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm.
Bather V, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm.
Bather VI, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm.
Bather VII, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm..
Bather VIII, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm..
Bather IX, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm..
Bather X, 2013 oil pastel on paper, 50 x 70 cm..
“The Bathers”, a bit ironic name for a series of paintings that basically suggest a thesis of immersion, drowning, sinking. Faced with a ubiquitous crisis in the social, political and existential sense we've fallen into a state of apathy, complete disorientation, instability. Without support, secure solutions, solid ground and air, we are exhausted from the constant temporality. Goals, ambitions, dreams, plans, values, attitudes, humanity, morality, beauty, and art sink under the imperative of survival. What life do we live?
On the other hand water and swimming in it bring by itself relief, calm and a sense of freedom. It has been proved that swimming reduces stress. In Christianity, water signifies regeneration, renewal, purification, baptism. In the Taoist tradition water represents a power of adjustment and persistence, the fluid of life as opposed to rigidity of death.
The paintings were painted from photographs of people who dive in the pool. The background (the pool) is omitted / erased in order to put the body in the foreground, as seen through the water. Distorted because of the refraction, the bodies acquire different associative forms. Sometimes they resemble serpentine creatures with tentacles or aliens or even zombies, but can also look like well-known solutions from art history (Venus from Vinca, African sculptures and Willem de Kooning's women.) It adds to the fact that they bear something universal, essential.
On the other hand water and swimming in it bring by itself relief, calm and a sense of freedom. It has been proved that swimming reduces stress. In Christianity, water signifies regeneration, renewal, purification, baptism. In the Taoist tradition water represents a power of adjustment and persistence, the fluid of life as opposed to rigidity of death.
The paintings were painted from photographs of people who dive in the pool. The background (the pool) is omitted / erased in order to put the body in the foreground, as seen through the water. Distorted because of the refraction, the bodies acquire different associative forms. Sometimes they resemble serpentine creatures with tentacles or aliens or even zombies, but can also look like well-known solutions from art history (Venus from Vinca, African sculptures and Willem de Kooning's women.) It adds to the fact that they bear something universal, essential.