Rowena Božič ◙ She was born in 1961 in Kranj, Slovenia. She spent her childhood in Kranj, and graduated from Novo mesto High School. Rowena obtained a degree in Geodesy from the University of Ljubljana, and a degree in Industrial Design from the Open University, Great Britain. Božič is employed as a geodesist at the national railway company of Slovenia (SŽ) in Ljubljana. Since 2012, she has lived in Bled. ◙ Rowena attended a drawing course at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, and participated in various courses and workshops organized by The Public Fund for Cultural Activities (JSKD), such as workshops in drawing, painting, sculpture (clay and stone), ceramics and spatial installation. She also participated in group projects. Her mentors were Duba Sambolec, Andrej Trobentar, Janez Zalaznik, Tone Rački, Alenka Vidrgar, Dubravka Urban, and Dušan Fišer. She also obtained a pass in the course Modern Art: Practices and Debates at the Open University. ◙ In 1997, she came in contact with graphic intaglio printing for the first time under the supervision of Marin Berovič. She attended graphic workshops by JSKD in Novo mesto regularly and later also workshops organized by the International Centre of Graphic Arts (MGLC). Among her most important mentors are the Slovene graphic artists Janko Orač, Gorazd Šimenko and Hamo Čavrk. In the last few years, she has been mostly using graphic techniques (dry-point, etching, aquatint, reservage, vernis mou, collagraph), but occasionally she also makes use of acrylic painting and collage. ◙ From 1980 to 2010, she received some prizes and awards. She has had eight solo exhibitions, and she has exhibited in more than seventy group exhibitions, twenty of which were abroad.

Solo exhibitions: ◙ 2011 KUD Trnovo Ljubljana, 2010 the Novo mesto Cultural Centre and Sevnica Castle, graphics with Sabina Šiler Hudoklin ◙ 2008 Kavarna Črnomelj, graphics ◙ 2006 Pri Slonu Gallery, Novo mesto, graphics ◙ 2005 KUD Laterna Črnomelj, graphics with Jasmina Nedanovski ◙ 2005 Novo mesto City Hall, graphics and acrylic ◙ 1986 Pri Slonu Gallery, Novo mesto, gouache. Some of the group exhibitions: ◙ 2016 Duoro Biennial, Portugal, graphics ◙ Graphic portfolio 10+ Cityscapes of Novo mesto ◙ 2015 Douro Global Print, Portugal, graphics ◙ 2015 Novo mesto, Graphic portfolio 10+ ◙ 2014 Tower Gallery, Bled Castle, acrylic ◙ 2013 the Novo mesto Cultural Centre, graphics ◙ 2013 - 2015 Mini Print Cadaque Spain, France, Great Britain, graphics ◙ 2010-2014 Mini Print Lessedra, Sofia, Bulgaria, graphics ◙ 2010 Pilon Gallery in Ajdovščina, Dolenjska Gallery in Novo mesto, national exhibition by JSKD, collage ◙ 2010 Sun Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia, acrylic ◙ 2009 Novo mesto Nursing Home, acrylic ◙ 2009 the Novo mesto Cultural Centre and Sončna dvorana in Izola, graphics ◙ 2008 the Mengeš Cultural Centre, Golden Palette – graphics ◙ 2003 Novo mesto National House, graphics ◙ 2001 Trebnje Gallery, regional exhibition, acrylic ◙ 2001 Novo mesto City Hall, graphics ◙ 2000 Luna Gallery in Novo mesto, graphics ◙ 1999 Mihelič Gallery in Ptuj, group project ◙ 1999 Ljubljana City Hall, stone ◙ 1998 Ivan Grohar Gallery in Škofja Loka, group project ◙ 1989 Pilon Gallery in Ajdovščina, national exhibition by JSKD, group project – installation ◙ 1987 Dolenjska Gallery in Novo mesto, national exhibition by JSKD, collage.

Address: Cesta Gorenjskega odreda 7, 4260 Bled | m: 031 242 756, e-mail: rowena.bozic@gmail.com

ROWENA BOŽIČGRAFIČNE POKRAJINE

Razstava grafikGalerija Stolp

Blejski gradod 2.4. do 30.4.2016

Exhibition of PrintsTower GalleryBled CastleApril 2 until April 30, 2016

GRAPHICAL LANDSCAPES

Izdal / Published by:

Rowena Božič ◙ Rojena 1961 v Kranju. Otroštvo je preživela v Kranju, končala gimnazijo v Novem mestu, zaključila višji študij geodezije FAGG v Ljubljani in študij industrijskega oblikovanja -BSc OU Vel. Britanija. Zaposlena v Ljubljani kot geodetinja na SŽ. Od leta 2012 stanuje na Bledu. ◙ Obiskovala tečaj risanja na ALU in se izobraževala na različnih tečajih in delavnicah JSKD, od risanja, slikanja, oblikovanja keramike, kiparstva (glina, kamen) in prostorskih instalacij do sodelovanja na skupinskih projektih; mentorji Duba Sambolec, Andrej Trobentar, Janez Zalaznik, Tone Rački, Alenka Vidrgar, Dubravka Urban in Dušan Fišer. Na angleški univerzi OU je opravila študijski predmet Moderna umetnost: prakse in debate. ◙ Prvi stik z grafiko-globokim tiskom je imela leta 1997 pri mentorju Marinu Beroviču, nato redna udeleženka novomeških grafičnih delavnic JSKD, kasneje tudi delavnice MGLC;

pomembnejši mentorji: Janko Orač, Gorazd Šimenko in Hamo Čavrk. Zadnja leta se največ posveča grafiki (suha igla, jedkanica, akvatinta, rezervaš, vernimu, kolagrafija), občasno ustvarja tudi v akrilu in kolažni tehniki. ◙ V letih 1980 do 2010 prejela nekaj priznanj in nagrad. Razstavljala je štirikrat samostojno, štirikrat v paru, ter na več kot sedemdesetih skupinskih razstavah, od tega na dvajsetih v tujini.

Samostojne razstave: ◙ 2011 KUD Trnovo Ljubljana, 2010 KC Novo mesto in Grad Sevnica, grafike skupaj z Sabino Šiler H. ◙ 2008 Kavarna Črnomelj, grafike ◙ 2006 Pri Slonu, Novo mesto, grafike ◙ 2005 Galerija Laterna Črnomelj, grafike skupaj z Jasmino Nedanovski ◙ 2005 Mestna občina Novo mesto, grafike in akril ◙ 1986 Pri Slonu, Novo mesto, gvaši.

Izbor skupinskih razstav: ◙ 2016 Duoro Biennial, Portugalska, grafika ◙ Grafična mapa 10+ Mestne vedute Novega mesta ◙ 2015 Douro Global Print, Portugalska, grafika ◙ 2015 Novo mesto, Grafična mapa 10+ ◙ 2014 Galerija Stolp, Blejski grad, akril ◙ 2013 KC Janeza Trdine Novo mesto, grafika ◙ 2013 - 2015 Mini print Cadaque Španija, Francija, Vel. Britanija, grafika ◙ 2010-2014 Mini print Lessedra, Sofija, Bolgarija, grafika ◙ 2010 Pilonova galerija Ajdovščina, Dolenjska galerija Novo mesto, državna tematska razstava kolaž ◙ 2010 Galerija Sonce, Zagreb, Hrvaška, akril ◙ 2009 Dom starejših občanov Novo mesto, akril ◙ 2009 KC Janeza Trdine Novo mesto in Sončna dvorana Izola, grafika ◙ 2008 Kulturni dom Mengeš, Zlata paleta- grafika ◙ 2003 Narodni dom Novo mesto, grafika ◙ 2001 Galerija likovnih samorastnikov Trebnje, regijska tematska razstava, akril ◙ 2001 Mestna občina Novo mesto, grafika ◙ 2000 Galerija Luna Novo mesto, grafika ◙ 1999 Miheličeva galerija, Ptuj, skupinski projekt ◙ 1999 Mestna občina Ljubljana, kamen ◙ 1998 Galerija Ivana Groharja, Škofja Loka, skupinski projekt ◙ 1989 Pilonova galerija, Ajdovščina, državna razstava JSKD, skupinski projekt- instalacije ◙ 1987 Dolenjska galerija, Novo mesto, državna razstava JSKD, kolaž.

Naslov: Cesta Gorenjskega odreda 7, 4260 Bled | m: 031 242 756, e-naslov: rowena.bozic@gmail.com

Naslovnica: Pokrajina, 2011-16, jedkanica, akvatinta, rezervaš, o. 20 x 15 cm / p. 70 x 50 cmCover: Landscape, 2011-16, etching, aquatint, reservage, print 20 x 15 cm / paper 70 x 50 cm

aprilski veter se zganev vrbovem listju… metuljlebdi v ravnotežju Matsuo Basho (japonski haiku)

Razstava grafičnih del Rowene Božič že z naslovom Grafične pokrajine gledalcu namigne, kako naj se loti gledanja v osnovi abstraktnih grafik. Vendar samo z iskanjem konkretne stvarnosti in realne krajine v prostorih, ki jih grafični odtisi razpirajo, ta zgreši. Lahko jih namreč primerjamo z žlahtno japonsko pesniško obliko haiku, ki sicer v točno določeni pesniški obliki uporabi utrinke resničnosti (večinoma iz opazovanja narave, pokrajine!), a če jih poizkušamo razumeti dobesedno, prav tako zgrešimo bistvo, kakor pri iskanju zgolj predmetnega v grafikah Rowene Božič. Za obojim namreč stoji notranje občutje, ki ga je težko ali nemogoče konkretno izraziti. Pa ne le na japonsko tradicionalno poezijo, pač pa tudi na japonsko umetnost in filozofijo nas lahko spomni njeno grafično ustvarjanje. Z uporabo nežnih, pastelnih barvnih tonov, ki z lazurnimi nanosi površino subtilno vzvalovijo, umetnica stopa po sledi vzhodnjaških mojstrov risb s tušem, kjer je poteza zelo natančno premišljena, a deluje skrajno sproščeno, celo naključno. Na vzhod lahko spomni tudi znakovna govorica vrezov v grafično ploščo, ki na odtisu zveni enkrat kot kaligrafija, drugič kot starodav-na, komaj izoblikovana pisava zdavnaj izgubljenega jezika. Naj bo površina odtisa razdrobljena ali zaznamo-vana s širokimi in skoraj monumentalnimi potezami, mu ne umanjka globina prostora. Tega lahko razumemo kot izsek iz mikro ali makro kozmosa, kot pogled od zelo daleč ali pod mikroskop – ali oboje naenkrat. Ob upodobljenem nas resda vedno znova prešinjajo spomini na realno pojavnost, na že-nekje-videno, a naj bodo ti namigi le kot prst zen mojstra, ki kaže na luno… če luno res hočemo zagledati, moramo od prsta pogled odtrgati…

Rowena Božič pri svojem izražanju neubesedljivega zelo dobro izkorišča žlahtni medij globokega tiska, ki omogoča in dopušča zgoraj naštete učinke. Obvladovanje grafičnih tehnik in izkoriščanje izraznosti njihovih specifik je omembe vreden dosežek. Umetniška grafika ima na Slovenskem bogato in kvalitetno tradicijo (in kljub primerjavam z vzhodno umetnostjo je Rowena Božič naslednica te tradicije), a zaradi specifike trdega dela v negotovosti točnega rezultata in tehnične zahtevnosti med umetniki ni več tako priljubljena. Rowena Božič, ki se je na svoji umetniški poti preizkusila v praktično vseh umetniških tehnikah, se učila in raziskovala izraznost in navdih z različnimi mentorji, je v grafičnem ustvarjanju našla pristen, kvaliteten in zrel izraz svoje nadarjenosti in izvirne umetniške poetike.

Ana Marija Kunstelj

April's air stirs in Willow-leaves...a butterflyFloats and balances Matsuo Bashō, Japanese haiku

The name of the graphic exhibition by Rowena Božič itself, Graphical Landscapes, implies how to read fundamentally abstract graphics. However, it will not be enough only to search for concrete reality and the actual landscapes in the spaces opened up by the prints. In fact, the prints can be compared to the noble form of Japanese poetry haiku, an explicit poetic form using glimpses of reality – mostly from observing nature and the landscape. Nevertheless, if we attempt to understand it literally, we will miss the point, as when searching for a mere reality in the graphics by Rowena Božič. In the background of creating both of them, there is namely the inner feeling that is hard or impossible to be expressed concretely. Her graphic creations can remind us not only of traditional Japanese poetry but also of Japanese art and philosophy. Using soft, pastel colour shades that subtly undulate on the surface with their thin layers, the artist follows the way of the Oriental masters of ink wash painting where every line is thoroughly prudent, but even so seems extremely relaxed and even coincidental. Another resemblance to the East can be found in the sign language of the incisions into the panels sounding at one time as calligraphy and another time as an ancient, only just developed writing system of a long lost language. Whether the print surface is fragmented or characterized by wide, almost monumental lines, there is no lack of spatial depth. The latter can be perceived as a section from a microcosm or a macrocosm, like gazing from a great distance or under a microscope – or both at the same time. Looking at the creations, the memories of real subjects, of something we have already seen keep occurring, but let these hints only be like a finger of a Zen master pointing at the moon; if we really want to see the moon, we have to look away from the finger.

In expressing the unspeakable, Rowena Božič makes very good use of intaglio printing that enables and allows the effects mentioned above. Mastering graphic techniques and making use of the expressiveness of their specifics is an achievement worth mentioning. Art printing has a rich and quality tradition in Slovenia (and Rowena Božič is a successor to this tradition, despite the comparison to Oriental art), but the technique is no longer very popular among artists because of its technical complexity and hard work required when you do not even know what the final product will look like. On her artistic path, Rowena Božič has tried nearly all art techniques, learned and explored expressiveness and inspiration with different mentors. In art printing she has found the authentic, quality and mature expression of her talent and original art poetics.

Ana Marija Kunstelj Sledi, 2009, akvatinta, vernimu (detajl)Traces 2009, aquatint, vernis mou (detail)print 33 x 40 cm / paper 50 x 70 cm

Pokrajina, 2011-16, jedkanica, akvatinta, rezervaš (detajl)Landscape, 2011-16, etching, aquatint, reservage (detail)print 20 x 15 cm / paper 70 x 50 cm

Vrtovi V., 2013, jedkanica, akvatinta (detajl)Gardens V.,2013, etching, aquatint (detail)print 21 x 15 cm / paper 50 x 38 cm

Pokrajina 5., 2009, akvatinta, rezervaš (detajl)Landscape 5., 2009, aquatint, reservage (detail)print 35 x 25 cm / paper 70 x 50 cm

Pokrajina 1, 2007, jedkanica akvatinta (detajl)Landscape 1, 2007, etching, aquatint (detail)print 35 x 25 cm / paper 70 x 50 cm