Traces Print

EGONIA is a visual dialogue with colors on the canvas. This is conversation of two Egos that do not exchange words but exclusively visually interact. There was no verbal communication about the artwork. It was a kind of ritual: each of us started painting on two canvases and exchanged them every seven days. After the completion of "four stages," the painting was "finished," so each painting was created within the 28 days’ time frame regardless of circumstances. During EGONIA, from November 2021 to April 2022, we painted 24 artworks. Technique was the essence of artistic visual expression: oil on canvas. ……………………………………… In the world of contemporary art, how does the essence of the human mind reflect in expression on the artwork? If we put our Ego under "control", can we achieve a deeper understanding of ourselves and others? Years of experience have shaped us through personal criteria and value systems in the sense of limitation and we need to re-explore the questions "Who am I?" "Who are you?" "Who are we?" We need a new meaning, a new connection. The desire for a deeper understanding of ourselves and others inspired us to create joint paintings that would become a mirror of our thoughts, emotions and personal dilemmas. How does it feel when you allow the “Other Artist” to intervene in your artwork? We searched for pure emotion through communication via visual elements: colours on canvas and have experienced the vast range of intensive reactions while the "Other Artist" interfered in the intimacy of our canvas. EGONIA was an inspiring experience, worth the risk of failure, ignoring, rejection from the "Other Artist," reminding us of the power of a joint creativity allowing the deep emotional connection that can develop through artwork. We kept writing diaries during our artwork. When crossed, they explain the origin of the paintings, as well as many dramas, pleasures, and wanderings. All stages of the artworks were photographed, documenting the creation process of each painting. Ritual of exchanging canvases in a time steps of 7 days has liberated us from the usual technique within the limited time frame and led us to the recognition of some new forms and textures in personal visual expression. EGONIA as the process had a strong inspirational energy within improvisation on canvases painted by the "Other Artist," which pushed us to see both of ours potential from a completely new perspective. Maja &Dijana