The English version of the interview that the famous painter Gordana Nenadović gave to our editor Slavica Momaković in 2019
The world’s famous painter Gordana Nenadović was born in Šabac. She lived and worked in Belgrade for many years. Has been living and working in Chicago for 6 years.
She had more than 70 solo exhibitions in Washington, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Indiana, Toronto, Calgary (Alberta), Moscow, Zurich, Lugano, Vienna, Frankfurt, Florida, Belgrade, Sarajevo, etc…
Turned to love are the words most often used to describe her art. Each picture is a whole, a theme, which brings us a view of the beautiful side of life. Her romantic and warm soul overflows from them!
While looking at them, I felt like a collector because I wanted to be surrounded by them all my life. In addition to many painting techniques and themes, Gordana is very dominant and original for painting icons, especially in the Byzantine style!
The conversation with this extraordinary artist brought a particularly beautiful energy.
What made your decision to move from Belgrade to Chicago?
– I followed my heart. God's providence. Since 2009, I have often come to Chicago, from that city I travelled to other American cities. Chicago and Lake Michigan are my love at first sight. I never felt like a stranger in that city. I went to Belgrade, travelled to other countries, but always returned to magical Chicago. America offers everyone a chance to realize their dreams, to show their talents and the best version of themselves, everything depends on our courage, perseverance, faith in ourselves and love for ourselves and others.
Are you planning a gallery in Chicago?
– I also had a gallery in Serbia, taught art at school, so it goes without saying in Chicago or maybe Florida. In addition to my paintings, there will be paintings by other American, Serbian and Balkan painters, as well as painting classes for children and adults that are already being implemented. Working with children makes me happy. In addition to classical paintings on canvas, I make paintings on the wall, clothes, furniture. I like to explore with colors.
What are you most inspired by while painting?
– To create and “give birth” to an image, I need a positive and “healthy” environment, smiling faces, joy in me. I can't paint if I'm sad, and life can also hurt. I often detox my thoughts next to Lake Michigan, which is close to me – I look at the horizon, the sunset, listen to the waves, the wind, observe and analyze passers-by and the nature around me, which is the greatest artist. I especially love horses, they feel my love, I feel theirs. Horses are antidepressants. They don't care if you are the president of the country or a chef, rich or poor, good or bad… they see us for who we are. We must earn their respect and trust, be honest with them and ourselves. Trotting horses are often my subject for work. The happiness of my friends, son and daughter is often my inspiration for beautiful pictures. I get sincere love from my friends, but my soul will recognize that other love one day, at first sight. Until that moment, I will be alone, take beautiful pictures and be a joy to my friends.
The further you travel, are you closer to the tradition where you came from or not?
– Abstraction in my paintings – my non-acceptance of reality, repressed pain that the gate of my country was wide open for me and many to leave, and my heart was divided into two parts. Will someone know how to close that gate? Our body is far away, and the soul still lives where we left our childhood, believing that one day someone will be smart enough to find a cure for the cancer that destroyed our country, families, education, cut the buds on the trees of the future. Which God do we believe in? We weave during the day, we shed at night. Until? Let's wake up and unite as a nation that has tradition and history. Where is the dignity of man?
What is the artistic atmosphere of the present?
– There are no rules on the art market. It's all a matter of taste or trend. Abstraction is popular on American soil. Many top painters are in the shadow of fashionism, which is unfortunately also present in the field of works of art. I never fit in with the crowd to be trendy, I was always my own, special, with principles. That is why it is not acceptable to me when a person bends to bad trends in order to be accepted in modern society. It is a lack of self-confidence and personal identity, which projects badly on art in the world.
Jelena Kiš and Gordana in Chicago
Have you been to Australia? Would you like to have an exhibition on that continent?
– Australia was my dream since childhood, the distances were a challenge for me. But while we make plans, God laughs, because He has other plans for us. I was supposed to have an exhibition in Australia in 2013 in the excellent organization of the Serbian consulate, Željko Gojković and Jelena Kiš, but two days before departure I was prevented and did not go. I believe I will have the opportunity to visit that beautiful Australia.
Finally, what message would you send to our readers?
– Life is art. Being a good person is an art. Let's not allow the Sun to be nobler than us, that it can illuminate both the good and the bad, and that we cannot radiate goodwill and love towards our friends and those who are not in our favour. Enemies do not exist, they are just our dissenters. Live in the present moment, the past is behind, the future moment is uncertain. Get to know yourself. We only have what we give to others, so live love, pure, unconditional.
A Chinese proverb applies to Gordana's paintings: “One beautiful picture is worth a thousand words!”
Slavica MOMAKOVIĆ, The year 2019
