Delicate erotic installations in the colors of gold and silver

Feminine, powerful, erotic, definitely different and authentic works by the Montenegrin artist of the younger generation Anastasia Kostic will be presented as part of her new solo exhibition "Grounding".

The exhibition will be opened tomorrow in Podgorica, in the Art Pavilion of the Association of Fine Artists of Montenegro, at 20 p.m. The exhibition will be available for visitors until October 14.

The works that will be shown to the public began to be created four years ago, perhaps unconsciously, and for this occasion, slightly less than 50 relevant displays of this new cycle of Anastasija Kostić were selected.

"The exhibition is multimedia and wall installations made of silver and gold plexiglass mirrors will be shown, as well as drawings, paintings, digital graphics... A total of 46 works will be shown. The opus includes works of art created in the last four years. The techniques are various, because in addition to intimate drawings, my goal is to conquer space, but in an innovative and elegant way, hence the creation of Plexiglas mirror installations. They are reflective, and exist in a constant interactive relationship with the observer", explains Kostić for "Vijesti".

All the techniques that Kostić used and all the motifs were shaped by thoughtful and consistent lines full of symbolism and sensuality, and the art historian Isidor Gazivoda, who will also open the exhibition, wrote that the "Grounding" project is strong and full of energy.

"'Grounding' is a project that was started a little more than four years ago, and which the artist became aware of only in retrospect, realizing that a totally new, more feminine expression had arisen in her and was growing violently. He shines with incredible power in each new line and forces it to turn to itself, but at the same time to open up to the world, to give itself to him completely and without shame. I say line, because Anja is a versatile creator, and her lines live everywhere, her medium is paper as well as computer program, she is one of those hard-working, tireless artists with a feverish work ethic who creates something new every day... I also say shame because it is a very important premise in this new opus, generationally only a woman's shame about her own body and desires that she observes and explores. And while the vast majority live without learning from the past, unaware of the world around them, for Anja, the world is a wonderful secret and an inexhaustible opportunity for growth", noted Gazivoda.

The works have a pronounced note of femininity, eroticism, feminism, from the palette of colors he uses, to symbols, figures, shapes, and precisely the sensuality of the line itself. It seems that colors and lines, contours, are very important to her as the construction and structure of the work, while further it develops into open spaces and expanses that hide behind.

"More or less delicate erotic installations are in fabulously naive colors of gold and silver. We look into the depths of the vulva, climb over the navel to the tops of the breasts, glide over long hair, reach timeless eyes and monstrous hands. Our depths are also our heights. We bow to a woman who is aware of her enormous strength and knowledge. This kind of art is intellectual but also emotional, sharp and witty, insightful, moving and self-revealing. Knowledge must grow alongside being to truly reach understanding. Allow yourself to indulge in some new feelings and thoughts, and to immerse yourself in the world, so long and shyly hidden, which is now so temptingly ready for other people's views", writes Gazivoda.

In an interview with "Vijesti", the artist explains how this selection came about, as well as the motives that she independently discovered through constant work and creation, including improvement.

"One of the key moments for my growth and development of such an expression was a specific challenge, which consisted of publishing a drawing every day for 1001 days, on social networks - one new drawing every day. Through that process, my creativity developed both intellectually and technically. The theme and form of female energy and body surfaced, or I 'unearthed' them with continuous work through that personal challenge. As my personal research was devoted to practices concerning women, the psychology of female sexuality, etc. that's how it poured in and was processed through my expression", Kostić tells "Vijesta".

It, Gazivoda notes, rediscovers the esoteric traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism, without idolatry.

"There is Yoni (Yoniverse; forex, plexiglass mirror, 2022) as a source, as a beginning, as a beginning, as a starting point, yoni as a womb and as a vulva. It makes a full circle to return to the beginning again. He finds salvation in the primordial, achieves spirituality through the body and realizes: We must be born again. Explores tantra and old Slavic amulets and symbols through the old female practice of embroidery that represent Bereginja, the female aspect of Slavic deity. It is interesting that one of the meanings of the word tantra in Sanskrit is braid or embroidery", writes Gazivoda...

She points out that in all of Anastasija Kostić's artworks, it is evident that she enjoys creativity, that she is dedicated to her vision, that she is carried by the creation, and that she carefully considers and integrates it all. It is especially noticeable that he enjoys digital media.

"In the essence of everything, geometry is the embodiment of frequency," Kostić says to Gazivodi...

"That's where the cycle called Soulgate Project was created in 27 printed graphics that he conveniently places in three rows that pay homage to Nav, Jav and Prav, the three worlds of the Old Slavs. Anastasia's beregins grow out of the ground, swim under waterfalls, ride the moon, are one with the animals, with spread legs between which they guard the infinity (Infinite, plexi na forex, 2022) embracing the world. Lightness and seriousness, naivety and sublimity quickly alternate in the fire, which for her is life and hope, salvation and food and finally rebirth... We see the female earth principle of fertility in Blossoming (forex, Plexiglas mirror, 2022). You can feel the power of matriarchy, old sacred knowledge, and the protection of the most valuable gift of birth as a perfect creation," writes Gazivoda about the artist's work.

Observing the installation, the author herself notices her own progress and development path, she confirms in an interview with "Vijesti".

"This exhibition is my biggest success so far, because the works were made with sincere energy and a lot of effort and love was invested in them, so I hope that this will be reflected in the viewers," says Kostić.

Gazivoda concludes that the presented drawings succeed and will succeed in conveying to the audience her unique sensory experience of nature, exposing herself, exploring herself and getting to know herself, as well as with and in front of the world, without shame.

"He has a lot to offer and demands a lot in return," concludes Gazivoda.