"Triptych: Uranus and His Mother" Painting

My name is Karolina Radotić Klarić, though I am also known as “Kuci.” I was born in 1998 in Postojna, Slovenia. My desire to create was awakened during early childhood. As a child, I often “escaped” into my imagination, finding it easier to retreat there than to face the world around me. Yet, I was deeply amazed by nature, animals, and the houses I saw. I marveled at the world that surrounded me, captivated by the constant movement and energy. I also observed relationships between people. My early motifs were simple, reflecting reality, but always with a stylized touch. I’ve always felt a need to understand the objects or events I encountered in my own unique way. I was a self-taught artist until I began my studies at the Arthouse College of Visual Arts in Ljubljana. In short, for as long as I can remember, I have always been a very creative person, and my rich imagination is the reason I see things differently. I have always been accompanied by what I call “artistic visions”—these are essentially images that I transfer from my mind onto canvases. Art, for me, has always been an escape from everyday life, and it continues to be so. For me, art is primarily a spiritual practice. I firmly believe that reality extends beyond what appears on the surface. As an artist, I continuously push the boundaries of the world I inhabit. My work reflects the idea that existence goes beyond the material reality of everyday life. Deeply influenced by my emotions toward life, I celebrate its complexity—its beauty and its darkness—through my paintings. Storytelling lies at the heart of my practice. Each painting conveys a story: some explicit, others subtle. Within my fantasy world, I transform everyday experiences into fantastical narratives. Real people, events, ideas, and emotions are translated into symbols or personifications, giving much of my work an autobiographical foundation, enriched with imaginative elements. Imagination also allows me to reinterpret well-known biblical stories and church teachings. I draw inspiration from literature—particularly the Bible—along with music, poetic metaphors, folk proverbs, and traditions. While these sources influence my work, I always add a personal dimension; even when referencing literature, my paintings are deeply shaped by my own lived experiences. Perhaps the most important aspect of my practice is that the works themselves invite dialogue.