Biljana Đurđević: Nevidljivi / Invisible

Friday 2 October 2009 at 8 pm, Kibela - the opening of the exhibition Nevidljivi (Invisible) by the Serbian painter Biljana Đurđević.

Biljana Đurđević (1973) graduated from Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade, where she has also completed her postgraduate studies. In her works she portrays the human figure in the contemporary consumerist society and aggressive reality in a particularly individual and exceptional way. She criticises openly Serbian social phenomena and reflects the cruel reality. She investigates how violence and anger are spread in contemporary culture in completely extreme ways. The mythology of today she often tells in the language of socialist propaganda. Yet the artist often uses allusions or quotes from various periods of art history, mostly from renaissance and baroque. Christian iconography and historical painting are other her sources to find the theme matter of her works.
The bodies of figures portrayed on her paintings are most often presented in a dramatic relation towards other bodies or the space surrounding them. Her works are abounding with symbolism, thus addressing the viewer at several levels. The elements making the works of Biljana Đurđević unique are her narrative realistic approach and her utterly uncompromising stance. The people portrayed often stare hypnotically at the viewers, thus “capturing” them into the painting. The background ornaments and chosen colours often soften the first impression upon seeing the painting and only a closer look reveals its true essence to the viewer - the brutal reality expressed in all honesty. The images bursting with emotional tension, the viewer looking at them almost encounters a physical experience. The artistic expression of works by Biljana Đurđević draws the viewers at first sight, their power being hidden in its depth and sincerity as well as its straightforward language.
In the period largely dedicated to new media, the artist has been focusing completely on the painting as her main medium of expression. She deals with it in a particular way, her specific poetics aiming at criticising the contemporary society and its ideals. She has thus been establishing the critical moment and encouraging the viewer to consideration.

Solo exhibitions:
2009
"Aesthetics of Violence"; Three Solo Exhibitions: Biljana Đurđević, AES+F, Norbert Bisky; Haifa Museum of Art - Israel, curator: Tami Katz-Freiman
2007
"Living in Oblivion", Museet Moderna, Stockholm - Sweden, curator: John Peter Nilsson
2006
"Paradise Lost", Galerie davide gallo, Berlin, Germany
"Paradise Lost", Critics choice, curator: Branislava Anđelković, Kulturni centar Beograd, Serbia
2004
"Paintings -Seven Deadly Sins", Salon Muzeja savremene umetnosti, Belgrade, Serbia.
2002
"French Treatment", Galerija GK, Belgrade, Serbia.
2001
Bambi is Dead, Galerija Irida, Sofia, Bulgaria.
2000
Cabaret, Center for Cultural Decontamination, Belgrade, Serbia.
1998
Dentist Society, Galerija DOB, Belgrade, Serbia.

Group exhibitions:
2008
Beijing Biennial, Beijing, China
2007
Passion for Art - 35 Jahre Sammlung Essl, Essl Museum Kunst der Gegenwart
Moscow Biennial, curator Iara Boubnova
Artefiera Bologna, Bologna, Italy
2006
Homage to Louise Bourgeois, curated by Martin Kunz, Museo Comunale de Arte Moderna, Ascona, Switzerland
"Six From Europe", Sonoma Valley Museum, CA, USA
"Zones of Contact" Sydney Biennale, curator Charles Merewether, Sydney, Australia.
"Napoli presente, posizioni e prospettive dell'arte contemporanea", curator: Lorand Hegyi, Palazzo delle Arti Napoli, Naples, Italy
2005
"Work in Progress", galerie davide gallo, Berlin, Germany.
"SWEET TABOOS" 3rd Tirana Biennale, Tirana, Albania.
"About Normality",Muzej savremene umetnosti, Belgrade, Serbia
"The Joy of My Dreams", 1st International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville, curator Harald Szeemann, Seville, Spain.
2004
"New Painting", Gallery Lia Rumma, Milan, Italy.
2003
"Blood and Honey". ESSL Collection, curator Harald Szeemann, Austria
"Balkan Crossroad", Bologna Art Fair, curator Harald Szeemann, Italy.
"Superman" - Fiedrich Schiller Museum, Studio program Weimar, Friedrich Nietzsche Institute, ACC Gallery and Weimar Klassik, Weimar, Germany.
2002
Contemporary European Art - The Art of the Balkan Countries - Greek State Museum of Contemporary Art and Thessaloniki Centre of Contemporary Art, Thessaloníki, Greece.
2001
1st Tirana Biennale 2001 - Tirana Biennial, Tirana, Albania

The exhibition will be on display until 17 October 2009.

Curator: Maja Vuksanović
Technical support: Simon Sedmak and Jure Vekjet