Damjana is an artist whose explorations come from various places including her hometown of Vojvodina, Serbia and her current location in Madrid, Spain. Her art is tied into questioning the world around us and uses visual mediums to reflect on and respond to human nature, challenging accepted beliefs. We welcome the words and ideas of Damjana to the LIFESTYLE Collective with our dialogue below and samples of her work!
What are the problems of the world that we live in that are affecting us as artists and towards which we cannot be indifferent?
– Damjana Jokic
Leading off with some basics, where are you from? And where are you at?
DJ: I’m from Serbia, and have been living in Madrid for the last nine years.
I just finished my Art Manifest, where I invite all “The Makers of Reality” to join and gather around the idea, and that is an indefinite love towards the art, the strength of a human spirit and the creative force. For the Makers of reality it’s important to be brave, the truth when we create and we are moved by cosmic force and intuition.
We want to finish with the fake, superficial, banal and decorative art that is offered by the galleries.
What does Reflection and Response mean to you?
DJ: The world is a picture that is inspiring me. My observations, reactions and my emotions towards it, are leading me to my projects. The projects are the response of my reflections.
How does “Living in between of everyday life” fit in with that definition?
DJ: My project is called “Living in between of everyday life”. We live in between of everyday life, in the metaphysical space, marginalized. I see that as a problem of the crisis of our spirit, consciousness, and values. The concretizing the problem would be showing the intoxication that we are exposed. The essence is that everything that is surrounding us is something that is constantly making us stupid. The absurd of our existence I see in our own impotence to change something that is obvious. Should the artists be more radical, devoted and sharper in their critic?
What else have you been working on recently? What are you looking to work on next?
DJ: I am interested in the new generations, where are they going in life and in art? I have been painting and making graphic prints, videos.
I would like to make an art movement on a bigger scale.
Who or what inspires you?
DJ: The new generations live in the world that is a picture that inspires the search for an answer to the question: Where are we going? The need for the truth and understanding the world that I live in, revealing the human nature.
What are the problems of the world that we live in that are affecting us as artists and towards which we cannot be indifferent? We live the consequences of the capitalism that is pushing us towards neo fascism, slavery and ignorance. That is making us vulnerable taking away our dignity little by little. How is that affecting art and artists?
Is there anything else you would like the Collective to know?
DJ: I think that art today needs to get back to the traditional values meaning to perfect the form, technique and the spiritual essence of an artist. Also needs to have a clear moral message, meaning to discover the floods of a contemporary social ethic and to offer a new esthetic. If the art doesn’t have those elements then its kitsch!
Makers of the Reality are also pursuing the Little happiness!
What is the personal happiness?
The possibility to question our own life, when we know who are we and why we exist!!!
Reflection and Response.