Dusan Reljin
"...insecurity is an emotion that could be considered bad, all artists have it, until the moment that you realize that it is impossible to grow and create without it."
Dusan Reljin
Photographer
City of residence, NYC, USA
Location: Mellomstasjonen
Date and time:
Artist TALK: Friday 12 October (time TBA)
Launch Friday 12 October 19:00 - 21:00
Exhibition is up 13 October 12:00 - 19:00
Q & A:
COL: How old are you and where are you from?
DR: Turning 44, I was born in Belgrade, while it was still Yugoslavia, and now Serbia
COL: What do you do?
DR: I am primarily a photographer and film director but have expanded into music
COL: How long have you been doing it?
DR: Since 2000
COL: What’s your first artistic memory?
DR: Unfortunately I can’t remember my very first one, but I can remember one that was very influential in me starting, and with which I have hardly any interest now. That was Andy Warhol, he inspired me since he was a painter, photographer, filmmaker and produced the Velvet Underground. I don’t think much of Warhol's art anymore, but subconsciously still
reference him.
COL: What inspired you to pursue a career in art?
DR: It took me a while to realize this. It is creation, the possibility of releasing something from your soul and creating it. The process itself for me is far more important than the finished product
COL: Do you remember your first work of art?
DR: The first artwork that I created was in kindergarten when I did a self portrait collage and I
made myself look very round in the face with very big eyes. I looked like an owl
COL: If you could have any piece of art in history, what would you choose?
DR: I wouldn’t want to have it. Art shouldn’t be owned yet shared so more people get inspired, now more than ever. People are distancing themselves from their senses and emotions with their everyday lifestyles, Life is much faster now with the phones, computers, internet, social media even airplanes. All of these things are influencing us, and allowing us to easily neglect ourselves. Art has the possibility to reverse that.
COL: What is your relationship with fashion?
DR: It is very much a love/ hate relationship where I am a complete hypocrite. Fashion allows me to express myself creatively and gives me a steady income, but I feel that it is at its lowest point ever.There is limited originality, creativity and art in fashion today. It is all sales driven which forces brands to lower the quality of their products, increase their branding and mass produce. As well marketing wise they are stuck with
working with social media celebrities, who compared to any other decade before are lacking depth, coolness and originality. Another thing that the fashion industry constantly ignores is being environmentally
conscious, but as long as you have consumers who are willing to buy this dream, reality will look more and more like a nightmare.
COL: What does the word “collective” mean to you as an artist?
DR: I find it fascinating. Artists are usually loners and narcissists, but there were some very interesting movements where artists collaborated and inspired each other.
COL: What is the best and worst thing about being an artist?
DR: I believe that both are the same thing, depending on how you interpret them. For example insecurity is an emotion that could be considered bad, all artists have it, until the moment that you realize that it is impossible to grow and create without it.
COL: Who do you admire?
DR: I admire people who follow their goals and are capable to release their creativity in an honest way
COL: What can we expect to see at this year’s festival?
DR: Many talented inspiring artists, carefully chosen to create a “collective"
COL: Who are you excited to see?
DR: Don’t know who will be there
COL: How important is the ability to expose your art to you and your creative field?
DR: Personally it is not important at all to expose it in the sense of creation, but I feel since I have an opportunity to inspire or influence others that it's the best medium for me to do so.
