Johnny Kovacevic - Art | Paintings

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Ancient Head study in pencil
Monument XI (Guardian of beliefs)
Devaraja (GOD KING)
The Ancient Head III
Guardian of the night
The Ancient Head

PORTFOLIO

BLACK and WHITE
When Kings were Gods
URBChina - Silk Road Drawings

BLACK and WHITE

The Ancient Head III
Ancient Head study in pencil
Golden Guardian II
Golden Guardian
Golden Guardian: Study
Head Study III
Head Study II
Head study
A long time ago IV
A long time ago III
A long time ago II
Guardian of the night II
Guardian of the night
Guardian of the night study
Study: Guardian of the night
The Ancient Head II
The Ancient Head
The Guardian V
When Kings were Gods III
When Kings were Gods II
The Guardian IV
The Guardian III
The Guardian IV
Monument XIV
Monument XIII
A long time ago

When Kings were Gods

Monument XI (Guardian of beliefs)
Self Portrait
The Guardian
Monument IX (The guardian)
When Kings were Gods
Monument X
Monument IV (A King's legacy)
Devaraja (God King)
The last ray of light
We all want to be stars
Monument VII
Monument VIII
Ruined monument with stars
Ruined monument with stars II
Monument VI
Monument II
The ancient face
Monument III
A 1000 years of history
Monument

URBChina - Silk Road Drawings

Wind in my eyes - Mingsha Mt
High on a hill - Xiahe
Ancient ruins of Jioahe-Turpan
5 degrees in the sun - Jioahe
View from Jioahe - Turpan
Flaming Mountains - Turpan
20 km out of Kashgar
From the clay cliffs - Kashgar
Beautiful day - Tashkurgan
Distant Mountains - Tashkurgan
Bitter cold afternoon
Middle of nowhere - Kashgar
Icy hands - Tashkurgan
3800m and minus 8 degrees
Breathless - Tashkurgan
Lanzhou

Artist Statement

My work focuses on mankind's desire to leave behind a legacy, some trait or memory of his/her existence like ancient rulers did in the past, building monuments that showcase their achievements and god-like status.

The works were originally inspired by the Bayon Temple in Siem Reap (Cambodia). Built during the reign of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII during the 12th-13th century, a period when the Khmer monarchy saw themselves as "Devaraja" (god-king). A term used to describe the Khmer Monarchy's train of thought and belief of themselves as both God and King.

Visually the Bayon Temple is amazing. Upon entering the temple grounds you're instantly surrounded by hundreds of gigantic stone faces, all with a peaceful temperament on their face, all raised above you as if they're state of being exists on a higher plane than yours, all demanding your undivided attention. What makes the temple even more interesting is some scholars believe each individual face is of King Javayarman VII himself, making a mere man immortal in some degree, as he has outlived everyone of that period and literally set his god-like image in stone for the modern day mystic to contemplate.

Taking the above into account, the work focuses on the faces/heads. Considering the head itself is symbolic of intellect, the mind, wisdom and ruler of the body... the driving force behind all human action. As the head and face are the most identifiable parts of the body and used as a reference point to distinguish someone, it plays a very important role in everyday life and history through pictures and monuments. In ancient times the head was considered to hold the seat of the soul, the essence and life-force of one's life and state of being.

I've placed the faces on the picture plane to compel viewers to feel like they're standing directly in front of someone of great importance, someone who's power and will allowed them to leave behind their unique mark on history. The perspective of looking up at the faces resembles that of any spiritual or religious deity that is held in high esteem, it's always positioned at an elevated level.

Generally the works have a blue sky in the background. Placing a sky in the background gives viewers breathing space, an opportunity to contemplate the meaning of the heads and in some works where the sky dominates the picture plane, an opportunity to let your imagination drift without restrictions and rules. Looking back on the history of the colour blue, it's always been symbolic of eternity, contemplation and wisdom.

Colours to me represent energy, life force, vibrancy and I've tried to reflect this in the work, I've tired to capture the energy the faces omit. The colours that I seem to use again and again are reds, yellows and orange... each represents power, prosperity, the sun, fire and passion.

I've painted the works with small brushstrokes, layered and built up one on top of the other, which has enabled me to create the old worn stone effect. Why have I painted the faces in a state of decay, because nothing last forever and even energy shifts from place to place. Time catches up with everyone, making every moment precious.

ABOUT

BIOGRAPHY

Johnny was self-taught to draw from an early age, and completed three years at the National Art School in East Sydney as soon as he finished high school.

Over the next few years he continued to draw and held his first solo show at the age of 23. Feeling he lacked much needed painting skills and a better comprehension of colour, he left full time work in 2001 at the age of 26 and enrolled into the Julian Ashton Art School.

It was here he learnt the key principles of composition and most importantly the value of colour. Since then he hasn't looked back with five solo shows and numerous group shows under his belt. Johnny continued painting over the next 8 years but never really found his way. It wasn't until a trip to Cambodia in 2008 that his work gained direction and new ideas were born.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2011, October, "When Kings were Gods", Blank Space Gallery, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia

2011, July, "When Kings were Gods", Monstrosity Gallery, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, Australia

2003, October-November, "Some Place Far Away", Beatty Gallery, East Sydney, Australia

2002, July, "A Gentleman and His Lover, Beatty Gallery", East Sydney, Australia

1997, October, "Unknown Surroundings", Kulture Shop, Rose Bay, Sydney, Australia

Selected Group Shows

2005, July, "Waverly Art Prize", Waverly Art College, Sydney, Australia

2003, December, "XL Paintings", Beatty Gallery, East Sydney, Australia

2003, November, "Conrad Jupiters Art Award", Gold Coast Art Centre, Australia

2003, November, "Ten Big Paintings", Beatty Gallery, East Sydney, Australia

2002, December, "Xmas Show" Beatty Gallery, East Sydney, Australia

2001, July, "Waverly Art Prize", North Bondi Public School, Australia

1997, November, "Friends and Family Show" Kulture Shop, Rose Bay, Australia

1995, November, "Degree Show", Cell Block, National Art School, East Sydney, Australia

1995, October, "Fusion", Cell Block, National Art School, East Sydney, Australia

1991, October, "Yes", Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach, Australia

Reviews

1997, October, "Unknown Surroundings", Wentworth Courier, Australia

CONTACT

CONTACT ME

kovacevic.john_gmail.com

+61 2 450 066 377

JOHNNY KOVACEVIC Art - Paintings - Drawings

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PORTFOLIO

Artist Statement

ABOUT

Exhibitions

CONTACT