Moja prijateljica, Boni
Slika mačke po imenu Boni
Avtorica slike mačke Boni je Aprilija Lužar. Umetnina je nastala proti koncu leta 2020. Naslikana je bila z oljnimi barvami. Podlaga je platno. Spada v sodobno umetnost.
Aprilija Lužar je slovenska slikarka in večmedijska umetnica. Trenutno dela in živi v Doljnji Brigi. Rodila se je leta 1963 v Ljubljani, študirala je na Akademiji likovnih umetnosti v Sarajevu in na Akademiji za likovno umetnost in oblikovanje v Ljubljani, kjer je leta 1987 diplomirala, kasneje je zaključila tudi slikarsko specialko. Kot slikarka je dejavna več kot 30 let, po letu 2000 pa je postala tudi mednarodno znana: prejela je prvo nagrado na tradicionalni letni razstavi članov ZDSLU v Majskem salonu – Pop (2002). Razstavlja tudi po Sloveniji in tudi v Kočevju, nazadnje v 2023. Po izobrazbi je slikarka. Lužarjeva svoje slike nadgrajuje z raznimi videi, instalacijami … Njene slike so osredotočene na feministično umetnost, bolj kot estetičnost so v ospredju družbeno aktualne teme (nasilje nad ženskami, status žensk v sodobni družbi, lezbični aktivizem). Izbrana slika izstopa iz tega konteksta.
Prikazuje kratkodlako črno mačko z megleno zelenimi očmi. Motiv zavzame večino površine. Prikazani sta mačkina glava in taca z ostrimi sivimi kremplji. Ozadje je kombinacija različnih odtenkov oranžne barve. Mačka je naslonjena na zeleni objekt. Zre direktno v opazovalca. Ne kaže čustev. Slika je posvetna.
Iz same upodobitve je težko razbrati sporočilo, saj je najverjetneje naslikana po slikarkini lastni mački ali pa je plod njene domišljije. Izraža njeno naklonjenost do živali.
Mačka izstopa iz prostora. Motiv ni na sredini slike, ampak je pomaknjen na desno stran platna. Večinoma so uporabljeni topli odtenki. Okoli živali je ozadje posvetljeno, robovi pa so poudarjeni s temnejšimi barvami. Na sliki lahko opazimo živo oranžno, pastelno zeleno in črno. Te barve na umetnini prikažejo kontrast.
Med raziskovanjem njenega ustvarjanja sem ugotovila, da je že konec 90-ih let 20. stoletja naslikala serijo slik »Moja prijateljica«, v kateri so slike oštevilčene. Izbrana slika je dostopna na Instagramu, na podlagi tega sklepam, da je sodobnejša. V primerjavi s staro serijo so te mačke poimenovane.
Zdi se mi, da umetnina predstavlja prijateljsko vez med živalmi in človekom. Recipientu da misliti o tem, kako zanimivo je, da imajo ljudje že generacije živalske prijatelje, ki pozitivno vplivajo na njihovo počutje in duševno zdravje. Čeprav naj bi črne mačke prinašale nesrečo, te slika prepriča ravno o nasprotnem. Menim, da si tople barve ozadja in mačkin mrzli pogled in odločen izgled dobro nasprotujeta ter s tem ustvarjata imenitno sliko. Verjamem, da ima slikarkino delo velik pomen tako lokalno kot po celem svetu. Večina njenih umetnin ima globlji pomen (kot je upiranje proti nasilju), torej ta slika izstopa izmed ostalih, saj nima konkretnega sporočila.
Vita Premrl, 2. b (šolsko leto 2023/2024)
VIRI IN LITERATURA
– ALČEVA, E., ZGONIK, N. (2009). Pojmovnik slovenske umetnosti po letu 1945: pojmi, gibanja, skupine, težnje. Ljubljana: Študentska založba: Inštitut ALUO, Akademija za likovno umetnost in oblikovanje.
– Aprilija Lužar. (2023). Dostopno 25. 10. 2023 na: https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aprilija_Lu%C5%BEar
– Aprilija Lužar. (b. l.) Dostopno 25. 10. 2023 na: https://zdslu.si/luzar-aprilija-2/
– KOVAČIČ, N. (2023). APRILIJA LUŽAR. MALA RETROSPEKTIVA. Dostopno 25. 10. 2023 na: https://pmk-kocevje.si/novice/225-aprilija-luzar-mala-retrospektiva
My friend, Boni
(original title: “Moja prijateljica, Boni”)
A painting of a cat named Boni
The author of the painting of Boni the cat is Aprilija Lužar. The piece of art was created towards the end of 2020 with oil paint. Its base is a canvas. It falls under the category of modern art.
Aprilija Lužar is a Slovenian painter and multimedia artist. She currently works and lives in Dolnja Briga. She was born in 1963 in Ljubljana and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, as well as at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana where she graduated in the year 1987. Eventually, she also finished the painting specification. Lužar has been present as a painter for more than 30 years, and after 2000, she has also become recognised internationally; the artist received her first award at the traditional annual exhibition of members of the ZDSLU (The Union of Slovene Fine Arts Associations) in May Salon – POP (2002). The painter also occasionally exhibits her artwork throughout Slovenia as well as in Kočevje, most recently in 2023. She works as a professional artist for a living. Lužar enriches her paintings with various videos, installations, etc. The paintings are centred around feminist art with socially relevant themes, such as the abuse of women, the status of women in modern society, and lesbian activism, outweighing the aesthetics of her art. The selected painting stands out in contrast to the mentioned themes.
It shows a short-haired black cat with misty green eyes. The motif takes over the majority of the surface. The cat’s head and paw with sharp grey claws are in the front. The background is a combination of different shades of orange. The cat is leaning against a green object. It stares directly into the viewer and shows no emotion. The painting belongs to the field of secular art.
It’s difficult to discern the message from the depiction alone, as it likely isn’t intended to have a deeper meaning and is either a painting made after the artist’s own cat or simply a figment of her imagination. It represents her appreciation for animals.
The cat stands out from the space surrounding it. The motif isn’t positioned in the centre of the painting; it’s moved slightly to the right side of the canvas instead. Mostly warmer colour tones were used. The outline around the animal is highlighted with brighter colours while the corners are shaded with darker tones. We can notice bright orange, pastel green and black shades on the painting. These hues represent a certain distinct contrast on the piece of art.
During my research of Lužar’s work, I found out that there was a series of cat paintings called “my friend” (“moja prijateljica” in Slovene) that she created in the late 90s. The one I’ve chosen here can be accessed and viewed on Instagram, which is why I presume it’s more modern. Compared to the previous series, we can notice that the new cat paintings have been given a title.
I think that the art piece represents the relationship between humans and animals. It gives the recipient a reason to think about how interesting it is that humans have had animal friends throughout generations, acknowledging the positive influence on their feelings and mental health. Although black cats are associated with bringing bad luck, this painting convinces you of quite the opposite. I find that the warm tones of the background and the cat’s cold gaze and determined appearance contradict each other very well; through this contrast, a wonderful piece of art is created. I believe Lužar’s work is of a huge importance locally as well as internationally. While most of her paintings have a deeper meaning (e.g. fighting and rising against abuse), this particular picture stands out from the rest as it doesn’t have a distinct message.
Vita Premrl, 2. b (School Year 2023/2024)
SOURCES AND LITERATURE
– ALČEVA, E., ZGONIK, N. (2009). Pojmovnik slovenske umetnosti po letu 1945: pojmi, gibanja, skupine, težnje. Ljubljana: Študentska založba: Inštitut ALUO, Akademija za likovno umetnost in oblikovanje.
– Aprilija Lužar. (2023). Dostopno 25. 10. 2023 na: https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aprilija_Lu%C5%BEar
– Aprilija Lužar. (b. l.) Dostopno 25. 10. 2023 na: https://zdslu.si/luzar-aprilija-2/
– KOVAČIČ, N. (2023). APRILIJA LUŽAR. MALA RETROSPEKTIVA. Dostopno 25. 10. 2023 na: https://pmk-kocevje.si/novice/225-aprilija-luzar-mala-retrospektiva