Monday, September 16, 2013

Exhibition Opening: Matko Vekic - Ordinary People / Inner happenings



Exhibition Opening: Matko Vekic - Ordinary People / Inner happenings

The exhibited series of paintings by leading Croatian painter Matko Vekic is made up of unusual portraits, if we can call them that, entitled The Masks of God’s Image. The series comprises some portraits of human heads, some of which are literally hidden behind masks (diving masks, protective masks), faces hidden behind veils, sunglasses, or simply darkened. Behind the masks we can make out priests, doctors, soldiers, and the symbolism is further reinforced by the only clearly displayed face – that of the Mother of God.
Matko Vekic - Untitled 1

Matko Vekic - Untitled 1 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm
Matko Vekic - Untitled 5

Matko Vekic - Untitled 2 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm
Matko Vekic - Untitled 4

Matko Vekic - Untitled 3 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm
Even though a criticism of society is constantly present in Vekić’s works, rarely does it have a sharp edge. He does not want to shock the viewer but rather through a gradual process of understanding that what is shown to compel the viewer to think, on a kind of journey inward.
The overlapping of different worlds, the infusion and parallel existences of the artistic and the non-artistic, the inner and the outer, the human and the non-human are constant themes of Matko Vekić’s artistic exploration. Although he clearly remains committed to the traditional medium of painting, he does not perceive it as something hermetic and set apart from contemporaneity and the impact of other media.
Regardless of the themes and motifs that are in Vekić’s focus at a given moment, what is common to all his works is the fact that they are exceptionally strong artistic works in terms of technique. Vekić is an artist whose mastery over the space of the painting is absolute, freely building his expression through the use of rollers, stencils, while emphasizing the materiality of the painting process. That is why, however much the theme of his work is serious, the excitement and joy of the creation itself is always visible.
Matko Vekic - Untitled 8

Matko Vekic - Untitled 4 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm
Matko Vekic - Untitled 9

Matko Vekic - Untitled 5 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm
Matko Vekic - Untitled 7

Matko Vekic - Untitled 6 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm

About the artist:

Matko Vekic was born 1970 in Zagreb. He graduated painting from the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts in 1995. From 1996 to 1999 he worked as a teacher of drawing and painting at the Zagreb School of Applied Arts and Design. From 1999 to 2003 he worked at the Academy of Fine Arts in Široki Brijeg (University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina), first as a part- time assisting lecturer of painting, and later on as a senior- lecturer. Since 2007 he has been a senior lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. He is a member of Croatian Association of Visual Artists and lives in Zagreb.
Matko Vekic - Untitled 6

Matko Vekic - Untitled 7 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm
Matko Vekic - Untitled 3

Matko Vekic - Untitled 8 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm
Matko Vekic - Untitled 2

Matko Vekic - Untitled 9 (The Mask of God's Image Series)

Original painting
Oil and varnish on canvas
Signed by the artist
Size: 81 x 75 cm

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2013
Rijeka, Galerija Kortil, Magnetsko brema vremena / The Magnetic Burden of Time
Poreč, Galerija Zuccato
2012
Zagreb, Galerija Kranjčar, Solo show
2010
Zagreb, HDLU Galerija Bačva, The cruelty of the circle
Vicenza, Yvonneartecontemporanea, La gravita del tempo
2008
Zagreb, Gliptoteka HAZU, Symbol, sign, emblem, ornament and crime
Rab, Galerija Knežev dvor, TV choice
Zagreb, Mapa serigrafija Cages, Galerija Canvas
2007
Labin, Gradska galerija Labin
Osijek, Galerija Kazamat Osijek

Selected Group Exhibitions

2013
Leipzig, One-sided Story
2012
Zagreb, Lauba, Finalisti 2012.
Zagreb, HAZU, XI.trijenale hrvatskog kiparstva
Zagreb, Kabinet grafike HAZU, 4. Hrvatski trijenale grafike
2011
Zagreb, HDLU, 1. Biennale of painting
Split, Galerija umjetnina, stalni postav
2010
Cairo, 12th Cairo Int. Biennale
Berlin, Preview Berlin – The Emerging Art, Galerija Marisall
Vicenza, Yvonneartecontemporanea, Selection 2010.
Zagreb, HDLU, 45. Zagrebački salon
Istambul, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Trans-Form in Art Education
Sofija, Trans-Form in Art Education
2009
Venezia, 53. Int. Biennale, Dead in Venice or life trough 12 images
Zagreb, Kabinet grafike HAZU, 3. Hrvatski trijenale grafike
Zagreb, festival suvremene umjetnosti MAX ART FEST
Metković, Otisci utisci, 100 grafičara Hrvatske i Bosne i Hercegovine
2008
Zagreb, Gliptoteka HAZU, 4. trijenale hrvatskog crteža
Zagreb, festival suvremene umjetnosti MAX ART FEST
Zagreb, HPB Grand Prix za slikarstvo 2008.
2006
Cairo,10th Cairo Int. Biennale
Graz, Künstlerhaus, "Format"
5 Pieces Gallery is pleased to show these new works by outstanding Croatian artist Matko Vekic. The exhibition will run at www.5piecesgallery.com from today to October 15 2013. 10% off for 5 Pieces Gallery members.

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