The academic painter is certain that his cycle of paintings "Phoenix" and the solo exhibition of the same name will leave a strong impression on the audience in the Montenegrin capital. Goran Cetkovic. He said this in an interview with Vijesti, on the occasion of the exhibition that will be officially opened today at the Cultural Center of the Royal Capital of Cetinje at 18 p.m.
He points out that the Cetinje audience has always known how to respect true art, and this time he presents 25 new works inspired by the theme of transformation and permanent regeneration, in which the deeper dimensions of existence and art are explored through the figure of the mythological creature Phoenix.
"The 'phoenix', a symbol of rebirth from the ashes, is perfectly rooted in the works of this talented Montenegrin artist, providing viewers with a unique opportunity to connect with universal themes of life, death and transformation," the Cultural Center said in a statement, inviting all art lovers to visit the exhibition, which will be opened by art historian Ljiljana Zeković.
The cycle of paintings "Phoenix", Ćetković tells Vijesti, has a symbolic meaning.
"It is a process where the forms in the paintings arise, disappear and are reborn from the ashes. That is how the name of the cycle came about. My paintings are a warning to this crazy world to come to its senses. The motifs of screams and cries support this. I opened Pandora's box from which an entire world emerged. A world of pain, suffering and tragedy, but also of crazy hope," he says.
The legendary phoenix bird is present in the mythology of many cultures, and is considered magical and unique in that it has the ability to self-regenerate, that is, renew its life by first burning in flames at the very end of its life cycle, and then being reborn from its own ashes. Numerous associations and vivid symbolism encouraged Ćetković to further deepen what the phoenix means, but starting from the visual.
He worked on this cycle for about two years, during which more than 50 works were created, and 46 large and medium-sized works will be presented at the 25th solo exhibition. “Phoenix” was created as an epilogue to his entire work to date and fully corresponds to the previous cycles. The central motif is still man, and Ćetković remains faithful to his recognizable style and figuration.
"Since my academic days, I have been dealing with man, who is an eternal theme and an inexhaustible source of inspiration for me. Inspiration arises from immense work and a strong desire to always make a better painting than the previous one... That is what drives me forward, this hunger for painting... The starting point in creation is the head and the human body. However, in this cycle, the form is somewhat broken and brought to the edge of the abstract, but that boundary has not been crossed, because I am, in principle, devoted to figuration," the artist explains to Vijesti.
Renowned artist Dimitrije Popović In his entry "The Poetics of the Scream", about Ćetković's painting, he pointed out that "what dominates in the painting of the contemporary Montenegrin artist Goran Ćetković is the exceptional expressiveness of creative expression, which is equally reflected in the painting of the human face and body."
"Everything is given in such a way that the dynamic movement of the painted matter created from the transformed conventional anatomy of the human body creates the impression of destructive energy that, paradoxically, simultaneously cancels and confirms itself. Such an impression is suggested by the names that the artist gives to his works. From 'Creation of the World', 'Nausea', 'Transience' to 'Noah's Ark' or 'Phoenix'. Everything exists to disappear and be renewed again by the vitality of energy into a recognizable anthropomorphic form," Popović pointed out.
Ćetković adds that in addition to drama, dynamics also dominate his paintings.
"All shapes and forms have an expressive mobility that gives the paintings additional expressiveness and strength. I always bring the paintings to the edge of abstraction, but that boundary is never crossed because I am fundamentally a figurative artist, as I said. Each painting is the product of a conflict of internal forces, a conflict with myself, but also with the world around me. The color blue dominates the paintings and for me it is a symbol of the universe and spiritual balance. I am convinced that 'Phoenix' will leave a strong impression on the Cetinje audience, which has always known how to respect true art," says the painter.
The artist reveals that preparations are underway for an exhibition in Podgorica, but also for another large solo exhibition outside the country.
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