Tom Carapic
Encyclopedia
Tom Carapic full name Tomislav Sava Carapic, is an artist who specialises in found object
artwork.
Carapic was born in Velisevac
, Serbia
(then Kingdom of Yugoslavia
). He was educated at a military school in Herzegovina
in the 1950s, and served as a sergeant in the Yugoslav People's Army
. Afterwards he was denied a college education, possibly because he was not a member of the Communist Party, and illegally crossed into Italy
in 1961, and, from there, emigrated to the United States
.
In 1965 he began attending classes at the New York Art Students League, but dropped out soon afterwards, eventually attending the Wilfred Academy of Beauty Culture. However, he was unable to find steady beauty parlor work, and worked in menial labor while attending classes in Spanish Education at Manhattan Community College. Due to a problem with accredation, he was forced to switch to classes in the field of studio art
.
In the late 1970s, Carapic began experiencing hallucinatory
visions; claiming that his degree problems were caused when "the evil marriage bureau massed the troops" against his college and proceeded with "an Air force
bombardment" of the school. After receiving other visitations, he began making and showing his art.
Most of his art is centered on found objects, most famously computer keyboard
s, especially those by IBM
. Most of his art consists of these objects, marked with black Sharpie
markers, and with green thumbprints and handprints along the objects.
Found object
A found object, in an artistic sense, indicates the use of an object which has not been designed for an artistic purpose, but which exists for another purpose already. Found objects may exist either as utilitarian, manufactured items, or things which occur in nature...
artwork.
Carapic was born in Velisevac
Veliševac
Veliševac is a village situated in Ljig municipality in Serbia....
, 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...
(then Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
). He was educated at a military school in Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
in the 1950s, and served as a sergeant in the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. Afterwards he was denied a college education, possibly because he was not a member of the Communist Party, and illegally crossed into Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1961, and, from there, emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1965 he began attending classes at the New York Art Students League, but dropped out soon afterwards, eventually attending the Wilfred Academy of Beauty Culture. However, he was unable to find steady beauty parlor work, and worked in menial labor while attending classes in Spanish Education at Manhattan Community College. Due to a problem with accredation, he was forced to switch to classes in the field of studio art
Studio art
Studio art is made of art and studio, and the term has several implications depending on the context used. The term encompasses all art forms, be they performing or visual.-Definition:...
.
In the late 1970s, Carapic began experiencing hallucinatory
Hallucination
A hallucination, in the broadest sense of the word, is a perception in the absence of a stimulus. In a stricter sense, hallucinations are defined as perceptions in a conscious and awake state in the absence of external stimuli which have qualities of real perception, in that they are vivid,...
visions; claiming that his degree problems were caused when "the evil marriage bureau massed the troops" against his college and proceeded with "an Air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
bombardment" of the school. After receiving other visitations, he began making and showing his art.
Most of his art is centered on found objects, most famously computer keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
s, especially those by IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
. Most of his art consists of these objects, marked with black Sharpie
Sharpie (marker)
Sharpie is a manufacturer of writing instruments whose products are sold in over 20 countries. Originally a name designating a single permanent marker, the Sharpie brand has been widely expanded and can now be found on a variety of previously unrelated permanent and non-permanent pens and markers...
markers, and with green thumbprints and handprints along the objects.