Heroes of the Modern Age
Opening of the first solo exhibition
Aleksandar & Sanja Brzaković
18.10 - 02.11.2024.
Princess Ljubica’s Residence
“Heroes of the Modern Age” - Sanja and Aleksandar Brzaković
Impulsiveness, strength, restlessness, expression and individuality – these are the characteristics of the recent work of two artists gathered in the sculptural studio "Renome Arte", Sanja and Aleksandar Brzaković, who are presenting themselves to the art audience for the first time with an exhibition at Princess Ljubica’s Residence.
Through a harmonious coexistence of traditional and modern elements, a kind of summary of a series of ceramic sculptures created over the past eight years – busts with male and female figures – reveals an atypical world of contemporary heroes with expressive mimicry.
Guided by the saying – "It is not the bright weapon that fights the battle, but the heart within the hero", Sanja’s and Sale’s fearless warriors for virtue and light steadfastly carry their burden, undergoing various metamorphoses, provoking both curiosity and unease in the observer.
Such complexity and versatility of human faces have a unique connection with the past and the future, as well as with the mythological – transposed into eclectic busts made from primordial material – clay, of intriguing consistency.
The transformed sculptures, a play of plastic (smooth-textural) and pictorial (mostly umber, but also contrasting) elements, dominate the space gesturally through their mutual interaction.
The accentuated eyes of the portrayed heroes evoke elements of the surreal, whether they are closed, gazing into the future, or piercingly observing us, with tightened lips and a clear attitude.
We follow the scale of emotional states and moods through the female figures which for Sanja Brzaković are both expressive and refined, strong and fragile, tangible and elusive – whether they are geishas, warriors, or pilgrims – they are self-contained and timeless.
The heroes of Aleksandar Brzaković are fighters against stagnant everyday life – mystics, guardians, samurais, victors, in one word homo faber.
Some of the artwork titles enhance the narrative flow, while others are perceived as iconic.
With an unconventional approach, a balance of spiritual and plastic components, as well as the introduction of coloristic qualities into the sculptural space – the two authors courageously confront humanity and the multifaceted nature of human consciousness.
Although the shape of time in the sculptural works of Sanja and Aleksandar Brzaković loses its linearity through pronounced universality, the pursuit of balance with elements of allusion is a characteristic of contemporary discourse. And that is why their sculptural characters are true heroes of the modern age.