Large attendance at Perjanički Dom on Tuesday evening, on the occasion of the grand opening of the exhibition "Paintings" by the artist Ivan Pejović, confirmed the relevance and enduring interest of the audience in his work, even though it had been 15 years since his previous solo exhibition. The exhibition gathered numerous visitors and opened a space for a new reflection on the relationship between man and nature through the artistic expression of this Montenegrin creator.
The landscapes in Pejović's paintings reveal the inner dialogue between man and nature, breaking down the barrier between self and other. Such creation of a phenomenological synthesis of merging leads to the humanization of space, connecting inanimate aspects with the very vivid memories of the observer. One of the basic aspirations of art is precisely the internalization of individual experience in relation to the other, so it can be concluded that Pejović achieved one of the highest goals of artistic expression through his works.
Curator of the exhibition Milica Bezmarević She said that this exhibition is particularly significant for the Museum of Contemporary Art, as it represents the artist's return to the Montenegrin scene after a long break.
"Ivan Pejović belongs to the middle generation of Montenegrin artists and has been present on the domestic scene for decades. However, his solo exhibitions are not a frequent event and this is the first one after almost 15 years since the previous one. My excitement as a curator, but also that of the entire Museum team behind this exhibition, is all the greater," she pointed out.
Bezmarević emphasized to the audience that the experience of nature is based on the ability to connect the observer with their own memories, making the landscape a gateway to inner worlds.
“The unique experience of nature is based, among other things, on its ability to evoke the past and summon memories. Not in a straight line, but abruptly, suddenly, in fragments like film sequences of memory. It is as if the landscape is not just what we see in the moment, but carries within itself layers of inner worlds and individual memories. Then nature ceases to be just a scene outside of us, becoming a space of encounter with ourselves, a place where thoughts, feelings and memories merge with what surrounds us. It is thus not just a passive framework of experiences, but an active guardian of our inner worlds,” said the curator.
She further emphasized that in Pejović's landscapes, nature does not appear as a copy of the outside world, but rather gains a personal touch through the rhythm of colors and strokes.
“Nature reminds us that memory is not locked in the past, but is constantly renewed and transformed through encounters with a living, ever-changing world. In Pejović’s landscapes, nature does not appear as a faithful copy, but as a rhythm of colors, strokes, and freely shaped chromatic masses. These are not just frames for observing the landscape, but surfaces on which the landscape is reborn and reconstructed,” she emphasized.
Bezmarević assessed that Pejović's use of color opens up space for a new interpretation of the landscape, because color in his work is not just a chromatic description, but a sign and emotion.
“The landscape here manifests itself as continuous movement, a composition of rhythm and contrast, where the artist not only shapes natural forms, but also structures their inner pulse. This allows the viewer to perceive and critically reinterpret the landscape. Every coloristic decision in his painting shapes the space and guides the viewer through it, transforming them into an inner state. Color for Pejović functions as a sign and emotion,” said the curator.
Speaking about the specific use of colors, she pointed out that cool, blue tones convey silence and introspection, while warm ones – red and yellow – introduce eruptive rhythm and life. “Color here is not only a visual element, but also a medium for expressing atmosphere, rhythm and psychological tone, providing direct access to the subjective experience of the landscape,” she explained, referring to the philosopher Gaston Bašlar and his “Poetics of Space”.
In the end, she concluded that Pejović's landscapes are not only external scenes of nature, but also landscapes of the inner world.
"According to Bašlar, space is phenomenological and subjective - we experience it not only with our eyes, but also through emotions, memories and imagination. Ivan Pejović's landscapes can be read precisely through this perspective. They are not just external scenes, but internal landscapes in which memories, thoughts and emotions merge with the perception of the world," concluded Bezmarević.
Bonus video:
