Devotion Print

I often ask myself that question, what sets me apart from others. The thought is each one of us is unique; that is the beauty of life. The way you see things, situations, or even beauty is different for each one of us. We all have our inner world. Some of us only get to spend a few minutes a day in it, while others manage to live in it most of the time. Even with all the influences, experiences in life, with all those layers we must start with the roots and where we come from, culture, and traditions. I was born in Serbia, a country with a strong homogenous culture and deeply rooted traditions. When I was 23, I immigrated to America which is a multicultural country, and that was the beginning of understanding different cultures and approaches to life in general. Was it hard, hell yes. I am trying to focus on how to maximize gains while minimizing losses. Adapting to change and trying to learn as much as possible. In high school and college, where I studied art I learned the rules, but it was the time to learn how to break them. I chose the modern perceptual approach to art. What impresses me are those communities of people, those places of rituals, fashion, deep culture, and colors. Those unique, fashionable, inspiring people are truly living art. Also for many years, the human race has had an inner desire for tribalism. The loyalty, protection, and friendship we find in the people we choose to surround ourselves with are important. Not only do they determine who we are as individuals, but also how we view and treat the world around us. In the modern world, we become disconnected from our tribe, and without one we can feel spiritually disconnected. Individualism is becoming a pandemic of this century. What if our quest for individualism is actually making us miserable? We live in a world of a period, information and knowledge are easily accessible and fast, but human connection is not. It takes time and patience. There is no filter, right angle, or influencer if you will, that teaches us that. I would love it if my paintings inspired people to connect more deeply with their tribe and to stay honest and unique about what their nature is.