NYState, 2016
Archival quality preserved plants, artificial plants, wood panel, Plexiglas, corrugated plastic, honeycomb core, mixed media, paint
May 3, 2016 – May 31, 2016
Ivan Stojakovic’s works can be seen as environmental wall art installations, incorporating vertical gardens with live, preserved and artificial plants. Yet they come to life as paintings and they pay equal tribute to the institution of painting and wall relief. Thematically, Stojakovic’s work explores environmental topics and the relationship between water, vegetation and architecture in the face of climate change.
“NYState” replicates the map outline of the New York State. In the interior area of this artwork are various geographical features such as forests – represented by actual plants, and underground waters (aquifers) – represented by hot pink plexiglass. While being true to every detail in shape and scale on the map, the aquifers of the New York State are displaced and re-arranged by the artist. Displacing and reshaping of forests and infrastructure followed this aquifer re-arrangement, guided purely by the visual logic of the piece. Through this process of remixing environmental elements, the artist explores radical human impact on the ever-changing landscapes. While taking local and global geographic studies as points of departure, ‘NYState’ comments on the near future possibilities for major environmental transformation and its seemingly fictional character in the present moment.
BIO
Ivan Stojakovic was born in Belgrade, Serbia. Stojakovic studied drawing and painting at FLU in Belgrade and received BFA from OCAD University, Toronto. He received MFA in painting from Pratt Institute in New York, where he is based. His recent solo exhibitions include ‘Wildscapes’ at Christian Duvernois Gallery in Manhattan, ‘Urban Wild’ at Honey Ramka Gallery in Brooklyn, ‘Garden X’ at the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Manhattan, and ‘Global Nature’ at Bridgette Mayer Gallery in Philadelphia. His most recent group shows include ‘2% precipice’ at BronxArtSpace, ‘WILD’ at Gallery Nine5 in Manhattan, TD Bank sponsored ‘Art for Trees’ at the Grand Central Station, Manhattan, and New York Highline. Stojakovic is a recepient of the Bernard Bierman award / 1st place Haym Salomon Arts Awards Competition – for artist collaborating with children (Green Model City from recyclables), NY, NY.
