Slobodan Trajkovic - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Slobodan Trajkovic (born 1954, in Приштина, Yugoslavia

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...

, today Serbia

Serbia

Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...

) is a Serbian visual artist, who began his career in the late seventies. Lives in London and Belgrade.

Biography

As a young artist Slobodan Trajkovic radically undermined the appearance of the image of painting, creating diverse and voluminous structures. Trajkovic rejected academic language of the arts and began creating spatial works and installations belonging to the then current reversal art of the eighties. He later abandoned the idea of image-building, making a decisive move towards the flat representation of color organized in a figurative and abstract mix, which tended to chromatic aggression highly variable. Like the artists of the transition period, Trajkovic was left to automatically capture the uncontrollable activities of his hand. For many years he lived in New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

where the school of abstract art is still an active inspiration. He faced a serious creative shift caused by the conflict between European and American artistic attitudes. Trajkovic moved to London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

and returned to the European tradition lacking in the New World. He has now once again found himself challenged by the coexistence of the contradictions of form: organic-artificial, colorful-achromatic (or monochrome), rough-gentle, hard-fragile. His pictorial representation is handled masterfully. Drawings, objects, sculptures, installations, two-dimensional and three-dimensional works in various materials are in his game of mediation. In his artistic search, the dialectic is s permanent feature and a creative source of timeless remix. Internal creative developments have no end for him.

Education

1982/83 - Ecole Nationale, Superieure des Beaux Arts, Paris
1978/80 - Painting, Academy of Fine Arts, Beograd (M.A.)
1973/78 - Painting, Academy of Fine Arts, Beograd (B.F.A.)

Grants and Residencies (short list)

2006-10 - Barbican Foundation for Art, Studio Program, London
2005-06 - Florence Trust, Studio Program, London
2001-01 - Foundation Elizabeth, Studio Program, New York
1993-94 - Foundation Marie Walsh Sharpe for Art, Space Program, New York (Jury: Cynthia Carlson, Martha Diamond, Philip Pearlstein, Net Smyth, Robert Storr)
1992 - La Napoule Foundation for Art, for international artists, La Napoule
1989 - Artists' Colony Ecka, Zrenjanin
1983 - Cite internationale des Arts, Paris
1982 - Serbian Fund for young artists 'Moša Pijade' (International Program, London), Ministry of Culture Yugoslavia
1981 - Serbian Fund for young artists 'Moša Pijade', Ministry of Culture Yugoslavia

Solo exhibition (short list)

2009 "A Midsummer’s Night Dream", Institute of Contemporary Arts, Singapore
2009 "A Midsummer’s Night Dream", Ikona Gallery, Venice
2008 Tracing Memories, Gallery Zvono, Belgrade
2007 Metamorphosis, Gallery Belgrade, Belgrade
2006 Metamorphosis, Florence Trust, London
2001 Rivers and Shores, Gallery of Belgrade Cultural Center, Belgrade
1998 New paintings, Stefan Stux Gallery, New York
1996 Paintings, Gallery ULUS, Belgrade
1989 Paintings, Gallery Lada, Belgrade
1988 Mythological Space, Galerija Sebastijan, Belgrade,
1988 Mythological Space, Gallery Sebastian, Varaždin
1988 Drawings, Gallery Lada, Belgrade
1986 Paintings, Tomoko Liguori Gallery, New York
1985 Battle Arena, Alternative Museum, New York
1985 Paintings & Drawings, Modern Art Gallery, Ljubljana
1984 Heaven's Stories, Salon of Museum of Modern Art, Belgrade,
1984 Heaven's Stories, Small Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana
1984 Heaven's Stories, Gallery Meduza, Kopar
1984 Signs, Absurd Plants, Heaven's Stories, Fine Arts Gallery, Priština
1984 Paintings, Objects & Drawings, Gallery “Nadežda Petrović”, Čačak
1984 Absurd Plants, YAVA-1 Gallery, New York
1982 Drawings, City Theater Gallery, Šibenik
1980 Paintings & Objects, Youth House Gallery, Belgrade
1979 Synthetic path, Gallery of Student Culture Center, Belgrade
1976 Drawings, National Theater Gallery, Priština

Selected bibliography

Milenko Prvacki: Slobodan Trajkovic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (interview), TriSpace+, ICAS: Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore,Issue 01, July 2010,
Ivana Simeunović Ćelić, Slobodan Trajković, Zepter Museum, Belgrade, June 2010 (Catalogue forward),
Veronica Fratter: Slobodan Trajkovic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, La Nuova, Venezia, 2009,
Paul Bayley: Slobodan Trajkovic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ikona Gallery, Venezia, 2009 (Catalogue forward),
Ljilja Ćinkul: Magic of Discovery, Politika, Belgrade, 2008,
Miroslav Karić: Art of the Sunny Season, Yellow Cab, Belgrade, 2008,
Jovan Despotovic
Jovan Despotović
Jovan Despotović , born 16 April 1952 in Belgrade , is a Serbian art historian and art critic...

: Remix Galerija Beograd, 2007 (Catalogue forward),
Jovan Despotovic
Jovan Despotović
Jovan Despotović , born 16 April 1952 in Belgrade , is a Serbian art historian and art critic...

: Remix of Slobodan Trajkovic, Art Fame, Belgrade, 2007,
Slavko Timotijevic: Interview of the month: Slobodan Trajkovic, Art Fama, Belgrade, Issue 09, October 2007,
Maria Djordjevic: Fragile Babylon, Interview, Politika, 3 October 2007,
Pryle Behrman: Florence Trust 2006, Florence Trust, London, 2006 (Catalogue forward),
B. M.: “Longin” Slobodan Trajkovicu, Jedinstvo, Priština, 2002,
Natalija Cerović: Rivers & Shores, Galerija Kulturnog centra, Beograd, 2001 (Catalogue forward),
Natalija Cerović: Fall Exhibition, Art Pavilion “Cvijeta Zuzorić” Beograd, 2001 (Catalogue forward),
Petar Djuza: Rivers and Shores, Politika, Belgrade, 2001,
Natalija Cerović: 20th Memorial Nadežde Petrović, Gallery “Nadežde Petrović”, Čačak, 2000 (Catalogue forward),
Natalija Cerović: Fall Exhibition ,Art Pavilion “Cvijeta Zuzorić” Belgrade, 2000 (Catalogue forward),
Robert C. Morgan: Paintings as an anatomical constellation, Stux Gallery, New York, 1996 (Catalogue forward),
Tracey C. Hummer: Vivid individuality rules 7 exhibitors’ perceptions, Columbus, Columbus Dispatch, 1994,
Ješa Denegri: Paintings of Slobodan Trajković, Gallery Lada, Belgrade, 1989 (Catalogue forward),
Dragoš Kalajić: Slobodan Trajković, Gallery Sebastian, Varaždin, 1988 (Catalogue forward),
Ivana Simeonović Ćelić: Slobodan Trajković, Gallery Sebastian, Belgrade, 1988 (Catalogue forward),
Zoran Gavrić: From pontoon to pontoon, Gallery Lada, Beograd, 1988 (Catalogue forward),
Ivana Simeonović Ćelić: Choice ‘87, Art Pavilion “Cvijeta Zuzorić” Belgrade, 1987 (Catalogue forward),
Slobodan Rašić: Slobodan Trajković, Venac, Beograd, 1985,
Slobodan Rašić: Slobodan Trajković, City Gallery, Ljubljana, 1985 (Catalogue forward)
Peter Frank: Slobodan Trajkovic, Absurd Plants, YAVA-1 Gallery, New York, 1984 (Catalogue forward)
Claude le Suer: Visual Olympics to demolition Derby, Artspeak, New York, 1984,
Claude le Suer: An Inter-continental Melange of Talents, Artspeak, New York, 1984,
Ješa Denegri: Slobodan Trajković, Salon of Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade, 1984 (Catalogue forward),
Kosta Vasiljković: Fireworks Color, Komunist, Beograd, 1984,
Slobodan Novakovic: Landscape of Paradise, Jež, Beograd, 1984,
Jadranka M. Dizdar: Stories from Paradise, Mladost, Beograd, 1984,
Zoran Markuš: Stories from Paradise, Borba, Beograd, 1984,
Djordje Kadijević: Beauty of spontaneity, NIN, Beograd, 1984,
Ješa Denegri: Slobodan Trajković, Galerija Meduza, Kopar, 1984 (Catalogue forward),
Ješa Denegri: Slobodan Trajković, Modern Gallery, Ljubljana, 1984 (Catalogue forward),
Palmer Poroner: New York’s 3rd Yugoslav Biennial, Artspeak, New York, 1984,
Irina Subotić: In the search for new expression, Gallery “Nadežda Petrović”, Čalak, 1984 (Catalogue forward),
Sava Stepanov: New Image of the Drawing, Gallery “Olga Petrov”, Pančevo, 1984 (Catalogue forward),
Jovan Despotovic
Jovan Despotović
Jovan Despotović , born 16 April 1952 in Belgrade , is a Serbian art historian and art critic...

: Spreading knowledge of the Yugoslav art, Pregled no. 226, Beograd, 1984,
Andrej Medved: Srpsko poletje v Kopru, Delo, Ljubljana, 1984,
Meliha Husedžinović: Imaginary Landscae, National Museum, Zrenjanin, 1984 (Catalogue forward),
Kosta Vasiljković: Sacred and profane in art of Slobodan Trajković, Art Gallery, Priština, 1984 (Catalogue forward),
Petar Djuza: Plastic and mythical, Jedinstvo, Priština, 1984,
V. Nura: Hulumtivi i objeteve dhe kerkimi i formave, Rilindja, Pristina, 1984,
Sveta Bošnjak: Possible definitions, Borba, Beograd, 1984,
Ješa Denegri, Jadranka Vinterhalter, Jovan Despotovic
Jovan Despotović
Jovan Despotović , born 16 April 1952 in Belgrade , is a Serbian art historian and art critic...

: Art of 80’s, Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade, 1983 (Catalogue forward),
Sava Stepanov: New Abstraction, Gallery “Olga Petrov”, Pančevo, 1983 (Catalogue forward),
Zoran Markuš: 9 X 3, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, 1983 (Catalogue forward),
Jadranka M. Dizdar: Whispering, Mladost, Beograd, 1982,
Balša Rajčević: Slikarstvo v Jugoslavji, Sodobniki, Likovno rastavisce “Rihard Jakopič”, Ljubljana, 1982 (Catalogue forward),
Vinko Srhoj: Zrela ostvarenja, Slobodna Dalmacija, Split, 1982,
Zoran Markuš: Choice ’82, Art Pavilion “Cvijeta Zuzorić” Belgrade, 1982 (Catalogue forward),
Djordje Kadijević: In a Circle of Values, NIN, Belgrade, 1982,
Zdravko Vučinić: Critic’s choice, Gallery of Culture Center, Belgrade, 1982 (Catalogue forward),
Vinko Srhoj: May Yoth Salon, City Museum, Šibenik, 1981, (Catalogue forward),
Ivana Simeonović Ćelić: Slike i objekti, Književnost, No. 9, Belgrade, 1981
Darinka Jevrić: Ply of Coulor and Space, Jedinstvo, Priština, 1981,
Milanka Todić: Concept of Painting and Objects, Jedinstvo, Priština, 1980,
Jadranka M. Dizdar: Clear Form, Mladost, Belgrade, 1980,
Milorad Belančić: About Something Being Not Painted, Književna reč, Belgrade, 1980,
Slobodan Novaković: The Last Indian, Jež, Belgrade, 1980,
Djordje Kadijević: Individuality as necessity, NIN, Beograd, 1980,
Vinko Srhoj: Paintings and Objects (art review), Borba, Belgrade, 18 December 1980,
Mirjana Živković: Put i interesi, Politika, Beograd, 1980,
Milena Marjanović, Persective VI, Gallery “Kod pozorišta”, Beograde, 1978 (Catalogue forward),
Darinka Jevrić: In the World of Imagination, Jedinstvo, Priština, 1976.

Prizes and awards

2002 Longin award for achievement in visual arts, Association for Visual Artists of Serbia, Belgrade
1989 First prize for painting, Art Colony Ečka, Gallery of Contemporary Art, Zrenjanin
1986 First prize for painting, 27 Oktober Salon, Paviljon „Cvijeta Zuzorić“, Belgrade
1985 First prize for painting, XIII Bienale of Young artist, Moderna galerija, Rijeka
1984 Second prize for painting, III Yugoslav Biennial of Art, Equitable Gallery, New York
1982 Grand prix, V anniversary YAVA-1, Alternative Museum, New York
1981 First prize for drawing, Salon of Young artist, City Museum, Šibenik
1979 First prize for painting, Politika Open studio, Belgrade Fair, Belgrade

Sources

Ivana Simeonović Ćelić: Muzej Zepter, Beograd, 2010, pp. 292–293. ISBN 978-86-85151-02-6
Jovan Despotovic
Jovan Despotović
Jovan Despotović , born 16 April 1952 in Belgrade , is a Serbian art historian and art critic...

: Nova slika, Clio, Beograd, 2006, pp. 54, 99. ISBN 86-7102-236-6
Ivana Simeonović Ćelić: Boje vremena, Clio, Belgrade, 2005
The Marie Walsh Art Foundation: Artist to artist, Ace Gallery, New York, 2002. Library of Congress Control Number: 2002103699. ISBN 9665188-2-9.
Art of Kosovo, Art Gallery, Priština, 1998
Ješa Denegri, Fragments of postmodern pluralism, CICERO, Belgrade, 1997, pp. 146–149
Ješa Denegri: Eighties: Themes of Serbian Art, Svetovi, Novi Sad, 1997