Everything here, everything is theirs. Steep slopes, trails, spruce trees, rocks, old quarries. Everything belongs to you. And more. Everything that surrounds them is them. Their grandfathers created quarries, paved the paths by the sea and the roads along the hill. They walked along there, looking at the same roofless hut on Užab and the same green, calm spring sea. Grandparents, fathers, sons and grandchildren, they are all the same. Are only other branches of the same root, other shoots of the same tree, sprouting from this eternal, hard, rocky land.
Mate Balota, Croatian scientist and writer
In December 2020, BURN-IN and Croatian artist Snježana Vidović will take you on a wonderful journey and present a very authentic, exceptionally multi-layered view of the archipelago's natural worlds in the exhibition Meine Reise durch Istrien (My Journey Through Istria).
For the first time and worldwide exclusive, 20 partly large-format oil paintings are shown at BURN-IN in Vienna. Thus, the tradition-conscious artist proves her empathic, excellent understanding of nature and becomes an authentic ambassador of the well-known region loved by many.
worldwide
Premiere
Already in the summer of 2020 was published the book of the same name, which invites you to a journey of images and an astral travel through the land, at once fertile and barren. Not "Natura Morta" rather "Natura Vivendi" is the great theme of the artist. There Quitten (quinces) find themselves on a rendezvous, Feigen (figs) fall in love, Steine (stones) show their true face or Muscheln und Schnecken (shells and snails) sunbathe on a balcony in Tar.
The images are metaphors for an uncompromisingly life-affirming understanding of nature. They lead into a metaphysical world in which the differences between living and dead matter are suspended. Their archaic compositions are full of wisdoms that stand in an almost magical relationship. They exist beyond time and space as creatures equal to one another, engaging the viewer in an empathetic view of the world.
Image and
Soul Journey
Illustrative basis are reproductions (artworks and 60 anatomical cutouts), which are shown in the current BURN-IN exhibition. "Commenting" on the images are texts by Croatian writer Mate Balota. His childhood memories are woven into the collection of images as quotations. They reflect the harsh reality of life in Istria at the beginning of the 20th century.
The book has been translated into German, Croatian and Italian, doing justice to the multicultural background of the region.
Originally, the exhibition premiere was planned in Istria. A traveling exhibition to several European metropolises was to follow. Due to Corona, these plans had to be put on hold for the time being. All the more pleased BURN-IN that the exhibition can be held in Vienna.
MEET THE ARTIST: After this format already enjoyed great popularity in November, BURN-IN also managed to bring Snježana Vidović to Vienna. She will give visitors and journalists a full-day insight into her work and talk about her philosophy and new projects on December 11 and 12, 2020. Simply book the desired time slot online.
Press review
#arttransfer
identity-creating art by Snježana Vidović as part of EU project I-Archeo.S.
BURN-IN as a partner in Creative Placemaking projects.
Culture Counts - Kultur zählt. This message runs as a leitmotif through UNESCO's cultural program. Protection and preservation of cultural heritage, preservation and promotion of cultural diversity and dialogue between cultures are among the main tasks of the world-wide active organization.
With Snježana Vidović, BURN-IN 2019 found an artist who, through her many years of creation, works precisely at this identity-forming interface. Her works convinced from the beginning by strong radiance and highest quality. Looking at the works, one immediately feels the "Begegnung mit den Wesen Istriens" (the encounters with the beings of Istria), which the curator Nataly Schorr describes in the book Meine Reise durch Istrien (My Journey through Istria) published in 2020. With the works presented, Vidović develops a wonderful, extremely sensitive dialogue that shows her homeland in a classical guise, without any whitewashing. A magnificent scenery, but in places also marked by harshness, allows the viewer to see the infinite facets of people, culture and landscapes.
This also underlines Vidović's offer Painting in Istria, which she offers in her studio and in nature near Perci. In May 2019, it became part of the EU project I-Archeo.S in Porec.
Together with her long-standing humanitarian commitment to the region, she is one of the absolute pioneers in the preservation of cultural heritage, in the spirit of UNESCO.
Tip: BURN-IN has been operating successfully in the field of Creative Placemaking for several years with its Think- and DoTank and offers project support and seminars for entrepreneurs, art managers, regional politicians and artists.
The BURN-IN lecture series Regional Identities in Dallas, Denver and Oklahoma City provides interesting insights.
