Page 61 - ART NOW Internationally Recognized Artists

Helena Kotnik: ”My works are considered psychological human
landscapes. Personally I try to talk about us as humans, about our
society and our world.”

A Neo-Expressionist Synthesis of Grotesque and Sublime.
Helena Kotnik’s work presents a striking interpretation of local
neo-expressionism. Her art, in a sense, is primitive as it offers a
surprising synthesis between the grotesque and the sublime. This
synthesis involves a mix of human, animal, and plant elements that is both personal and universal. Her use of color, form, and
that deviate from conventional standards of grandeur. Her work texture creates a visual language that speaks to the viewer on an
reflects physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, and aesthetic emotional level, inviting them to engage with the work and explore
aspects of art. its deeper meanings.
Kotnik’s artistry draws parallels with the works of some of the Her art is a celebration of the human spirit, a testament to our
earliest modern artists. For instance, Francisco Goya’s works, capacity for creativity, resilience, and transformation. It is a
which mirrored contemporary upheavals, Picasso’s depictions reminder of the power of art to challenge, provoke, and inspire.
of bullfights, Dali’s self-cannibalising creatures, Francis Bacon’s Through her work, Kotnik invites us to see the world from a
tragic anatomies, and the works of Bosch, Munch, and Courbet. different perspective, to question our assumptions, and to imagine
Her art combines elements of early Romanesque and non-European new possibilities.
exoticism, often resorting to the representational solution of the In a world that is often chaotic and uncertain, Kotnik’s art offers
exaggerated body. Her dystopian fantasies bring to mind political a sense of hope and possibility. It is a beacon of light in the
personalities through the darkly comic, elastic, deformed, or darkness, a source of inspiration and joy. Her work is a testament
monstrous bodies that populate her exaggerated figures in her to the power of art to transform, to heal, and to connect us to our
paintings. shared humanity.
Among the most potent examples of the grotesque, her work In conclusion, Helena Kotnik is an artist of extraordinary talent and
is inherently associated with the feminine. It has long shaped vision. Her work is a powerful expression of her unique perspective
depictions of the female body, dogs, horses, birds, flowers, and on the world, and a testament to the transformative power of art.
portrayals of contemporary politicians as seen in the exceptional As we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities of
works “Cultural diversity”, “Chaos JFK”, “Women”, and “Vladimir our contemporary world, her work offers a beacon of hope and
Putin”. These works enhance the depth and complexity of her inspiration, reminding us of the power of creativity, resilience,
artistic expression, which mirrors our contemporary upheavals. and the human spirit. Her art is a journey, an exploration of the
Kotnik’s work is not just a reflection of the world around her, human condition, and a celebration of life itself.
but a commentary on it. Each piece is a narrative, telling a story Petru Russu – editor (MFA)
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