The art works of Zlatko Vasic are both stunning and shocking in their
honesty. There is so much thought and energy flowing into and out of
these works that seeing them is a conversation taking place in real
time. Each of his unique works demands your attention. The surface
images grab you and the messages is forced into your sub-conscious.
Although these works are not abstract in the true sense, they remind me
of what Marc Chagall said:
"What I mean by "abstract" is something which comes to life
spontaneously through a gamut of contrasts, plastic at the same time as
psychic, and pervades both the picture and the eye of the spectator with
conceptions of new and unfamiliar elements..."
This well fits these art works. Plastic skin, plastic fabric and plastic
objects fill these works. The message is not just a picture plane icon
but each goes much deeper.
I have watched as Vasic's works have progressed and his unique grasp of
the human condition and reaction to daily life through his work still
bring the same excitement as they did when I first saw them two years
ago. The difference in Vasic’s works and that of many other contemporary
artists is his attention to detail and the level of emotional energy
that flows into each work. The experience of seeing Vasic’s works is
similar to watching a horrible accident and walking away, knowing that
you are safe and sound while such tragedy exists around you.
The message
stays with you. We struggle as a species and most times we survive to
become stronger, and more resilient to withstand the next struggle.
Vasic states that the goal of his artwork is, "a metamorphosis of the
soul which enables us to change into what we are". This is achieved with
great emphasis on changing who we are from the experiences we view in
his work.
