Tatjana Krizmanic - Artist Symposia, April 19th (Sun) 3:00-5:00 PM

KOAN

An exhibition of oil paintings on canvas and gouache on paper

Shumei Art Gallery

Crestone Colorado April 3rd – May 15th 2009

My new series of abstract expressionist paintings draws on the landscape of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. I chose the title “Koan” for this series in part based on conversations with my friend Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel, who is writing a book titled “The Power of an Open Question”. In her writing she explores the notion of koan as an approach to the complexities of life: what if we leave our experience open, rather than draw immediate conclusions or respond habitually? Her work dovetails with my own inquiry into a more open artistic expression. All of the works in this series contain in them an open question; in a way they are an expression of the open question.

Overall this retreat from the representational work for which I am known has provided a space for a more liberated expression, free of containment. For me these paintings provide a larger sphere of inner and outer space, often resembling a passage through time and sound as well as emotional and literal landscape. Some of the paintings also pay homage to musical works I often listen to when I paint. The dynamic structure of “Amphibian Habitat” recalls Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words; “Arroyo” and “Ojo Caliente” resound with Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, while “Winter Water” and “Man on a Cliff” echo with Chopin’s Sonatas.

Born in Zagreb, Croatia Tatjana started painting at age fourteen. After studying at the University of Zagreb, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she completed her studies at Georgetown University. Over the next ten years she created paintings for friends and patrons, while working as an art director. Since her first exhibit in Boulder, Colorado, she has built a strong following, and her paintings reside in numerous private collections and museums. Her work is shown in galleries in United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. Krizmanic divides her time between her homes in Crestone, Colorado and the Adriatic Coast of Croatia.

At the artist’s presentation I will be talking about creativity in general and a way to observe and express that is in concert with natural creative expression. I will show some of my figurative work and its evolution and connection to the abstracts.

Tatjana Krizmanic