Igor Taritaš
Igor Taritas (Pakrac,Croatia,1987). After finishing High School of Fine Arts in Zagreb, Croatia. He graduated at The Academy of fine arts Zagreb in the class of Prof. Ante Rašić in 2013. He has exhibited in eighteen solo and several group exhibitions in Croatia and abroad. He has been a member of the Croatian Association of Artists since 2012.He won two prizes on contest of Erste Fragments7, Erste Fragments 10, and his work was purchased by INA Energy 2012. Igor Taritas paintings are part of private collections in Germany, England, Norway, Ireland, Singapore, USA, Australia, Hong-Kong.
Could you tell us a little more about your background, and how did you begin creating art?
I started to paint as a child with my father, who was amateur and my first inspiration. He mostly painted landscapes and horses.I graduated at art high school and got my master's degree at Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. Academy gave me new inspiration and I looked through the world more seriously and critically. As I changed my point of view, I also changed my own signature as an artist.
After finishing my studies, I returned to countryside where I grew up and made my studio.
What does your art aim to say to the viewers?
Through our lifetime, we spend all of our time in spaces, interiors and exteriors.
Living in spaces, we become them. Let us not forget that living space (and everything in it) is something created by man, whom he consciously or unconsciously, repetitively demolishes. By space deconstruction, I have reached my desired artistic expression and reproduction of metaphysical space which pervades the loneliness, melancholy , uncertainty and transiency . In my work I bring out spaces by combining surfaces and creating varying texture on canvas. I tend to use a more masonry approach than an artistic one. I treat my painting as I treat real life. When I paint doorways, I paint them as if I were looking right at them. If I am not pleased with the appearance of the closed doorways, I would simply open them up, as I would do in real life if it would intrigue me what was behind them. Abandoned spaces, empty industrial lofts are the reflection of our society. I question human faith and man’s spiritual space in my artwork.
Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What is your daily routine when working?
Before I start painting I make digital sketches in photoshop which are created by collaging photos I take and different patterns. When I am satisfied with the sketch I start painting. I am currently in the phase of painting with acrylic. My paintings are built in many layers and acrylic allows me a faster way of painting. My works are painted on a wooden board. Wood is a firmer base and allows me to tear and scrape paint which I tend to do in my work so as to emphasize transiency of time. I work as an art teacher in elementary school. Working with children takes a lot of time. Lately I’ve been painting mostly over the weekends. When I am preparing new exhibitions, I paint almost every day when I come home from work, including weekends. Sometimes it’s hard to reconcile two jobs, but when you love something there are no obstacles. When I paint in my studio I prefer to listen music. Music gives me extra energy and motivation. I like to listen a bit of psychedelic music like Pink Floyd.
What’s the essential element in your art?
I would say a perspective. I like to play with the perspective and perception of the observer. I want to pull them into my spaces and allow them to see the depth of things.
In your opinion, what role does the artist have in society?
Art is not like politics and it cannot directly change the world. The purpose of artists is to show that the world can be a better place or to portray the world in a different way. It is also positive that artists criticize the times we live in and ask moral questions through their works. Just as a written word, art was and still is a way of passing our knowledge to future generations. It helps us to understand past times and it will help future to understand current times. It conveys important insights into the way we see and perceive the world and therefore elicits new knowledge.
Website: http://taritasigor.blogspot.com/
