August 2013 – Davor Džalto

Monthly Archives: August 2013

August 30, 2013

Books

(2013) Res Publica, Belgrade-Požarevac: Otačnik, Department of Education and Culture of the Diocese of Požarevac and Braničevo.
(2012) New Faces of Icons (editor), Belgrade-Chicago: The Institute for the Study of Culture and Christianity, Holy Resurrection Cathedral.
(2011) Plus Ultra: Selected Essays in Culture, Communication and Faith, Belgrade: Otačnik.
(2009) Decem concepti et termini, Belgrade: Faculty of Culture and Media.
(2008) The Testimony of Icons, Belgrade-Tainah: Christian Cultural Center, Sodalitas.
(2007) The Role of the Artist in Self-Referent Art, Berlin: Dissertation.de.
(1998) On Writing Systems, Niš: The High School of Art.

August 25, 2013

IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ARTIST

by Marie-Christine Fritsch

Davor Džalto is an artist of manifold talents. His œuvre until now is varied and complex, yet communicative and accessible and therefore interesting.

It comprises traditional, modern and contemporary techniques and mediums which allow him to present a wide range of expressions. His paintings which include icons, portraits, figurative and non-figurative as well as abstract works but also his graphics, drawings and calligraphy show a colorful and positive approach, combined with sincere and profound consideration of every detail. In his objects and even more in his installations and video(installation)s his diversity and interests, clearly rooted in the post modern discourse, become even more evident as he appears as person, artist and author. So the inherent aspect of presence and absence in gradually changing intensities make the object of his discussion: He “marks” chosen natural or public sites and spaces (or even himself) with his varying shadow or clothes, with drawings, imprints and traces of his own body, his feet or hands, or with letters and words in order to define space (место) and his position and relation to it. All these elements serve as re-definition of space either physically, visually or verbally and they all can be of permanent, ephemeral or even of temporally limited nature.

The color red as a guiding line is a recurrent theme in his installations. They engage the observer in the artist's critical reflection about where to place one’s physical as well as spiritual home. Not only geographically but also within the time we live in today. His critique illustrates in several facets that this time and our position in it, most probably due to our own faults, is subjected to conditions and influences, which we don’t recognize as such, i.e. the often covered mechanisms of globalization and hidden imperialist aims. Maybe that is because we forgot to learn how to consider our own position and our own possible role as an attentive observer and above all as an individual within a space and time, we are not anymore capable of defining by ourselves. And even if we do so, it happens without us being conscious of our own perceptions.

Facing an artwork of this potential, the very process of reflecting upon our own presence or absence may appear to be a disconcerting exercise, because we don’t know where to turn to. And exactly this dilemma brings us back to the important number of icons in the work of Davor Džalto. By their nature icons approach us in our space we strive to define. They issue an invitation to re-establish an interactive relation between the observer and the icon, to initiate a dialogue about truth, verisimilitude and (our own) transience. It is up to us to deny or accept. And this is probably where we need to learn again, how to engage in this dialogue, which then basically will not be only about art and our “space” but mostly about ourselves as a person.

It will be interesting to follow closely the development and career of Davor Džalto as person, artist and author and to see the ideas, reactions, questions and answers he will find for himself, and how he then is willing to share them with us.

August 25, 2013

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

(2012) September 8-11: “New Faces of Icons” exhibition of contemporary Serbian iconography, Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Chicago.
(2012) January 30-February 29: “St. Constantine the Great and St. Helena” exhibition of icons and religious paintings, Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, London.
(2009) June 10-16: Exhibition of “FAM-Art” Workshop 2008, Podrum Gallery, Sremski Karlovci.
(2007) February 19-26: “ULUPUDS New Members Exhibition,” ULUPUDS Gallery, Belgrade.
(2007) June 6-17: participation in “Tactics of Resistance X Global Police Action” international exhibition in Chisinau (Moldova), with “The Red Army” video.
(2006) April 5: participation in “Aprilski susreti” international exhibition at the Students Cultural Center, Belgrade, with the “Face” video.
(2006) July 6-9: “Exit Art Installation,” Exit Festival, Novi Sad.
(2005) June 27-July 1: participation in “Transformation of an Unknown Space” art project by the Flexible Art Network, Zrenjanin, with the radio-broadcasts project.
(2005) August 9-15: participation in “Media Art Festival,” Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art, Yerevan, with “The Red Army” video.
(2004) May 14-28: participation in “Transformation of Unknown City” art project organized by the Flexible Art Network, Zrenjanin, with the “Creating…” and “From Mask to Person” videos.
(2004) September – October: participation in “45th International October Salon (Oktobarski Salon)” exhibition, Museum May 25, Belgrade, with “The Red Army” video.
(2003) May: participation in “Exhibition of Religious Painting” organized by the RC Archdiocese in Belgrade, Museum of Pedagogy, Belgrade, with the “Heaven and Earth” painting.
(2003) August – September: participation in the international “Real – Presence – Generation 2003” art festival, Belgrade.
(2003) December 28: “From Mask to Person” (video) and “Creating of Art Works, Creating of Personality, Creating of Artist(s), Creating of Art History” (video/performance) video presentation/screenings at the “36th Festival of Professional Puppet Theaters of Serbia,” Puppet Theatre, Niš, followed by the author’s presentation.
(2002) August 10-20: participation in “International student’s Pop-Art Festival” exhibition, Studentski Grad Gallery, with “The Red Army” installation, Belgrade.
(2000-2001) Participation in exhibitions organized by the “Niš’ Graphic Circle” in Belgrade, Niš, Leskovac, Pirot, Kraljevo and Sofia.
(1999) May: Graphic exhibition by the “Niš’ Graphic Circle” Kultura Gallery, Niš.
(1999) June: participation in the “Exhibition of the Art Pieces by Students of the High School of Art” Paviljon u Tvrđavi and Kultura Gallery, Niš.
(1998) April – October: participation in exhibitions organized by Fund for an Open Society, Pavilion Veljkovic Gallery and Club Underground, Belgrade. participation in the “Raskrsca (Crossroads)” exhibition organized by the “Niš Graphic Circle” Kultura Gallery, Nis.
(1997) September: participation in the exhibition organized by Fund for an Open Society, Pavilion Veljković Gallery, Belgrade.
(1996) May: participation in the exhibition of icons organized by the Open Club, Niš.

August 25, 2013

ONE-MAN EXHIBITIONS AND ART PROJECTS:

(2011) May 28: “Icons of Belgrade (Icone di Belgrado)” exhibition of icons, Monterosa Hotel Hall, Chiavari.
(2011) April 14-May 15: “Facing New Faces of Icons” exhibition of icons and icon-like paintings, Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg, Greifswald.
(2010) May-June: “10/30” exhibition of icons and paintings, Hall of St. Vasilije Orthodox Church, Belgrade.
(2008) March – April: “The Gaze of the Icon” exhibition, Sodalitas center, Tainach/Tinje.
(2006) June – December: “Traces of the Artist’s Presence” art project realized in Serbia, Greece and Germany.
(2005) June 27-July 1: “Transformation of an Unknown Space” art project/radio broadcasts, Radio Kojot, Zrenjanin.
(2005) September 12-20: “Identity. Mask. Person.” video presentation/exhibition (including videos: “From Mask to Person”, “Creating…” and “Face”), Students Cultural Center/VIP Gallery, Belgrade.
(2004) Jun 19: “Icons in the Black Forest” action, Freiburg i. Br..
(2003) March 12: “Funeral of an Author” video-performance, presented at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, followed by the author’s presentation.
(2002) May 17: “The Body Dressing” action, Belgrade.
(2002) August 10-20: “Marking the Space II” action, St. Petersburg.
(2002) November 23: “Funeral of an Author” performance, Topčiderska zvezda, Belgrade.
(2001) April – September: “Pure Art by Džalto Davor” art project, realized within the Center for Youth Creativity, Belgrade.
(2000) October: “Verbal and Visual Space Marking” exhibition, Kuća Đure Jakšića Gallery, Belgrade.
(1998) August 18: “Markiranje prostora” (Space Marking) performance realized within the workshop by the Fund for an Open Society, Žabljak.

August 25, 2013

Lectures by invitation

21/7/2013

“Freedom, Consciousness and the Edict of Milan” lecture within the Mariapoli Summer School, Deliblato.

13/6/2013

“Interpolations Between Religion and Politics” podium discussion at the Media Center, Belgrade (in Serbian).

1/6/2013

„Kirche und Staat – von der europabildenden Kraft des Glaubens“ participation in podium discussion, 39. Paneuropa-Tagen der Paneuropa-Union Deutschland, Halle an der Saale.

14/05/2013

“To Abide in Truth and Love” book promotion and panel discussion.

8/5/2013

“Nationalism and Orthodoxy” lecture at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade (in Serbian).

9/4/2013

“We Don’t Need No Education? Facing Educational Challenges in Contemporary Times, lecture within the Internest project, “Dušan Vasiljev” Gymnasium, Kikinda (in Serbian).

28/3/2013

“Religions in Interethnic Reconciliation” podium discussion, Media Center, Belgrade.

16/3/2013

“Finding New Social and Economic Models, Facing the Challenges of the Neo-Liberal Concepts” lecture within the “Economy of Communion” panel, “Dom Pavlovića” cultural center, Beograd.

14/12/2012

“The Total(itarian) Truth: The Architecture of Ideologies” talk at Szent István University of Budapest (in English and Hungarian).

19/11/2012

“Religion and Reconciliation” podium discussion, Media Center, Belgrade.

26. 1. 2012

“Nationalism, Statism and Orthodoxy” talk at the Russian and East European Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington.

29/5/2012

“Being Human: from Orthodox Iconography, via Pornography to Facebook” talk at the Foundation of Ilija M. Kolarac, Belgrade (in Serbian).

15/5/2012

“Contemporary Artistic Scene of New York: Chelsea Galleries” talk at the Foundation of Ilija M. Kolarac, Belgrade (in Serbian).

3/4/2012

Talk about Plus Ultra book by Davor Džalto

5/12/2011

“Church and Nation: Challenges for Contemporary Orthodoxy,” talk at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago.

16/11/2011

“Borders and Perspectives in (Orthodox) Christian Art and Iconography,” talk at the Department of Theology, Fordham University of New York.

10/11/2011

“How to be a Human Being? Masks and Identities, from Iconography via Pornography to Facebook” talk at Oklahoma University, Oklahoma City.

9/6/2011

“Iconography of Cretan Icon-Painters (15th to 18th c.)” talk at the Hellenic Fund for Culture, Belgrade.

22/3 – 12/4/2011

“Christianity and Creativity” series of lectures at the Foundation of Ilija M. Kolarac, Belgrade.

22/2/2011

“Faith and Freedom” talk at the Public Orthodox University, Patriarchate, Belgrade.

2-23/3/2010

“Art as Institution: the End of a Construct” series of lectures at the Foundation of Ilija M. Kolarac, Belgrade.

13/11/2009

“3. Münchner Balkantage – Dialog der Religionen“ participation in podium discussion, organized by the Südost Institut Regensburg, Munich.

9/5/2009

“Creativity and Truth” talk at St. Nicolas Orthodox Church in Indianapolis.

2/4/2009

“Vanishing Acts: Corporeal Absences in 20th Century Art” talk within the Burke Lecture Series, Department of Art History, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Oct. – Nov. 2008

“A Short History of Absence” series of lectures at the Foundation of Ilija M. Kolarac, Belgrade.

25-31/8/2008

Presentations and workshops within the international “(Un) Limited Identities” Summer Academy, organized by Kulturklammer, Belgrade.

4-7/4/2008

“Kultur macht Staat – Kultur macht Europa” participation in podium discussion within the XXIX Andechser Europatag Conference, organized by Paneuropa-Union Deutschland, Andechs palace, Munich.

29/3/2008

“Die religiös-pastorale Botschaft der Ikonen” talk at the Sodalitas center, Tainach/Tinje, Austria.

April – May 2007

“Person and Image” series of lectures at the Foundation of Ilija M. Kolarc, Belgrade.

March 2006

“Art is Art, Art is not Art” series of lectures at the Foundation of Ilija M. Kolarac, Belgrade.

23/3/2006

“The Artist as Author in Late Twentieth Century Art” talk at the Museum of Applied Arts, Belgrade.

16/9/2005

“Identity. Mask. Person.” participation in podium discussion, Students Cultural Center/VIP Gallery, Belgrade.

20/5/2005

“The Art of the Christian East and West – Connections and Mutual Influences” talk at the Christian Cultural Centre, Belgrade.

18/5/2005

“The Problem of Personhood in Contemporary Art and Culture” talk at the Cultural Centre of Studentski grad, Belgrade.

28/11/2004

“Human Body as a Symbol of Individuality and/or Personality – The Global and Local Perspectives” presentation and participation in podium discussion, Students Cultural Center, Belgrade.

August 22, 2013

INTERVIEWS/TV-RADIO SHOWS

August 22, 2013

Conference papers

(2013) “Totalitarianism and Pluralism: An Orthodox Perspective” paper presented at “Religion and Transnational Justice in the Western Balkans” international conference, Hotel Saraj, Sarajevo, June 22.
(2013) “Total Truth and Pluralism: Interpolations Between Orthodox Theology and Postmodern Thought” paper presented at “Political Theology of the Edict of Milan” conference, Dom Omladine, Belgrade, June 7.
(2013) “Orthodoxy and Contemporary Art: An (Un)Natural Alliance?” paper presented at “Can O thodox Theology Be Contextual? Concrete Approaches from the Orthodox Tradition” international conference, Cluj-Napoca, May 23-28.
(2013) “Modern Art and Modern Times vs. (Orthodox) Christianity” paper presented at “Tradition and Innovation – Reflection on Different Streams of Orthodox Theological Thinking in Exile and its Impact on Ecumenical dialogue” international conference, Charles University, Prague, May 17-19.
(2012) “The Culture of Nationalism and the Culture of Love: A Social-Political Aspect of (Orthodox) Christianity” paper presented at “Presence and Absence of the Orthodox Theological Reflection of Modern Ideologies and its Ecumenical Impact” international conference, organized by the Protestant Theological Faculty, Charles University, Prague, February 3-5.
(2012) “Toward Some of the Basic Theological/Theoretical Principles of Contemporary OrthodoxChristian Architecture” paper presented at “Church Architecture: Between Tradition and Contemporaneity” conference, organized by Association of Serbian Architects, Union University, Belgrade, April 20.
(2012) “Nationalism, Statism and the Orthodox Church” paper presented at “Ecclesiology and Nationalism in Postmodern Era” international conference, Volos Academy for Theological Studies, Volos, May 24-27.
(2012) “(Irresponsible) Art and Aesthetics in the Service of Power” paper presented at “Contemporary Confrontations Between Art, Morality, and Politics” international conference, University of Nanterre-Paris, Paris, June 1-2.
(2012) “Christian and National Identity in Serbia in the Context of EU Integrations” paper presented at “National and European Identity in the Process of European Integrations” international conference, organized by the Institute for International Politics and Economy and Hans Seidel Stiftung, IIPE, Belgrade, June 28-29.
(2012) “Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow, and Blue? Theology of Dialogue” paper presented at “Theology of Dialogue” international conference, organized by St. Andrew Biblical Institute (Moscow) and the Faculty of Protestant Theology of Novi Sad, Faculty of Protestant Theology, Novi Sad, November 7-10.
(2011) “Beauty will Destroy the World?” paper presented at the IV Annual Scholarly Conference of the Sofia Institute: “Beauty and The Beautiful in Eastern Christian Thought and Culture” Union Theological Seminary, New York City, December 2.
(2011) “The Defeat of Education in the Age of Digital Technologies” paper presented at the conference “Digital Media Technologies, Society and Education” Belgrade Fair, Belgrade, October 26.
(2011) “Necessary Images: Mass Media and the Kingdom of Perishable” paper presented at the international conference “Philosophy of Media” organized by the Center for Media Philosophy and Media Research – Zagreb, Cres, September 16-18.
(2011) “Orthodoxy and Socio-Economic Development” presented at “Economy and Religion” conference, organized by the Christian Cultural Center and Ministry of Economy and Regional Development of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade Art Hotel, Belgrade, June 24.
(2011) “The Instability of Memory: Construction of the Past as a Prison of the Future” presented at “Dangerous Memories and Reconciliation” conference, organized by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Religious Studies, Dom omladine, Belgrade, June 10-11.
(2011) “Non Nova Sed Nove: Reading the Balkan Baroques” presented at international conference “Innovation in Art: Conditions and Processes” Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg, Greifswald, April 14-17.
(2011) “How to Remember? Art History and the Problem of Memory” presented at international conference “Spaces of Memory: Architecture-heritage-art” organized by the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade and Museum of Applied Arts in Belgrade, University of Belgrade, April 12.
(2011) “Borders in (Orthodox) Christian Art and Iconography?” presented at international conference “Roots and/or Borders? Negotiating the Difficult Aspects of Ecumenical and Intercultural Conversations” organized by the Protestant Theological Faculty, Charles University, Prague, February 4-6.
(2010) “Empty Field of the (Post) Modern Art as a Metaphor of Creativity” presented at the “Contemporary Serbian Theology” international symposium organized by the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade; May 28-29.
(2010) “Aesthetics of Absence” presented at the “18th International Congress of Aesthetics” University of Beijing, August 9-13.
(2010) “The (Eternal) Otherness of the Balkans: the Case of Kusturica and Žižek” presented at “Re-thinking Humanities and Social Sciences, First International Conference: The Issue of the (Post) Other: Postmodernism and the Other” University of Zadar (Croatia), September 10-13.
(2010) “Ekstasis as a Cognitive Aspect of Human Person” presented at the “Days of Applied Psychology – VI Conference” University of Nish, September 25.
(2009) “Techne vs. Creation: An Inner Conflict of Art” presented at the “Fine Arts and Aesthetics Conference: Originality in Artistic Creation – Creative Process, Aesthetic Value, Cultural Role of Art, Metaphysical Significance” organized by the International Society of Phenomenology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, May 14-15.
(2009) “Art – A Construct of the Modern (Western) Civilization” presented at “The Days of Applied Psychology – 5th Conference” Faculty of Philosophy, University of Nis; November 27-28.
(2007) “European Identity as the University Tradition” presented at “Education, Art and Media in the European Integration Process” international conference, University of Arts, Belgrade, October 11-14.
(2006) “Worlds of Lost Identity” presented at the “X Spring Colloquium” of the Slovenian Society for Aesthetics, Ljubljana, April 6-7.

August 22, 2013

Exhibition Reviews and Catalogue Texts

(2012) “Ananda, ‘Krivak’ and the EU” catalogue text for exhibition of Dragan Radenović’s sculptures, O3on Gallery (Belgrade).
(2011) “Revelation of New Creation” catalogue text for exhibition of icons and religious art works by Biljana Jovanović, Vesna Crnobrnja, Višnja Devrnja, Despina Crnčević, Tamara Pajković and Ekaterina Kovinić, Gallery 27, Belgrade.
(2011) Catalogue text for exhibition of graphics by Branko Nikolov, Čedomir Krstić Gallery (Pirot).
(2011) Catalogue text for exhibition of contemporary Serbian iconography (Belgrade).
(2009) “Crossroads” catalogue text for exhibition of contemporary Serbian icons (Madrid).
(2009) Catalogue text for exhibition of installations and graphics by Branko Nikolov, Serbia Gallery (Niš).
(2007) “Sinteza stvaralaštva i tradicije” (A Synthesis of Creativity and Tradition) in: Danas Vikend, Saturday/Sunday, May 26-27 (Belgrade).
(2007) Introductory note to the exhibition catalogue of the artworks by the faculty members of the Department of Fine Arts in Niš, December (Niš).
(2005) Catalogue text for exhibition of artworks by INTEGRA, September, (Belgrade).
(2004) “Ljudsko telo: između individualnosti i ličnosti” (Human Body: between Individuality and Personhood), catalogue text for exhibition “Concept of Body. Virtual Body. Losing of Body.” by Flexible Art Network, VIP Gallery (SKC), November 24–28, (Belgrade).
(2004) Introductory note to the catalogue for “Transformation of an Unknown City” project, organized by the Flexible Art Network, May 14–28 (Zrenjanin).
(2004) Catalogue text for “Exhibition of Religious Painting” organized by the RC Archdiocese, Museum of Pedagogy, May (Belgrade).