Dimitar Kondovski(1927-1993)

This months cover featuring AHa Piponska,
Project coordinator for Loft in the RedZone.
She was also PR and production manager
for AKTO Festival

Dimitar Kondovski, Self portrait
1975, 140 x 95 cm. Oil on canvas,
photo courtesy of the artist's family
and facebook page administrator
Natasa Jovkovska

He is considered one of the great Macedonian painters of the 20th century, and yet until recently I, along with most of us here in NYC, have never heard of him. This will soon change. Some would say it was the worst of times, for a fortunate amount it was the best of times. Dimitar Kondovski was born in Prilep("the city under Marko's tower"), Serbian-ruled Macedonia, which had been incorporated into the kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes(later the kingdom of Yugoslavia). Later on he lived and worked in Skopje(capital of The republic of Macedonia).Yugoslav Macedonia was subsequently subjected to an intense process of "Serbianization" during the 1920's and 1930's. Unto this time of shifting alliances, political rivalries, changing borders, and ethnic tensions, Kondovski was born. Outside of his country "Black Tuesday" was looming in West, and would bring America and Europe to its knees; the Nazi's would soon rise out of this dark time, giving way to another world war that would reduce much of Europe to ruble and ash. I very much think that all of this helped to imbue Kondovski's artwork with "...and endless sadness and melancholy,  an atmosphere of isolation and abandonment"; as well as a profound illustrative beauty, tinged with the grace of tragedy, that would make Shakespeare smile with tears in his eyes. A critic and professor at Pedagogical Academy in Skopje, he studied at The Academy of fine Art in Belgrade(capital of Serbia). He was a member of the groups "Today" & "Dawn", won in 1964 the October award(Oktomuriska prize)of the Federal republic of Macedonia for painting. Kondovski also won prizes at the 8th Mediterranean Biennale  in Alexandria, and the 3rd Belgrade Triennial.

Dimitar Kondovski, "white flower in the moonlight"
1955, oil on canvas 70 x 49 cm. Photo courtesy of
the artist's family and facebook page administrator
Natasa Jovkovska 

Kondovski's artwork consists of still life, portrait's, and a very curious series of abstract work dealing with geometric shapes, compartmentalization and order. In these abstract works one can see something Malevich's "Suprematisim", although not so much in technique, but in a love of geometry and shapes. When you look at "white flower in the moonlight", painted in his early days, there is a marked difference between that and his self portrait of 1975. However one can see the basics of his technique is the same, sharp elegant angles with somewhat hard lines reinforced, with marks possibly made with his putty knife. (I think him and Klimt produced slightly elongated figures for a beautiful effect).  And of course his brilliant use of color to suggest mood. The look of  the paint in"white flower in the moonlight" is thicker then some of the paintings in his later years. Works like "by stander" and his self portrait from 1975 have a much lighter look and feel. Also within Kondovski's technique one can see a little of the feel of Sakai Hoitsu's(1761-1828), "Autumn flowers and moon"; something of the application of his colors and the feel the work registers very strongly. A similar connection could be made through Gustav Klimt's, whose style is different, yet bares similarities depending on which paintings your looking at. When you look at the back-drop of their paintings, the look of the clothing(sort of a loose, clean, fluid bush technique), with a very strong focus on the face of the subject, the similarities come to light. Both artist works exudes a powerful sense of realism but with an illustrative style, thats often imbued with subtle symbolism. The moon as a metaphor, a richly designed colorful robe, a flower in hand, the act of the subject(s) within the painting. Both artist's used color and tones to express their emotions,  that of the subject or the moment, real or imagined. A marked difference is their line work. Kondovski's is often more square looking with sharper angles, while Klimt's lines are often more rounded, with softer angles and curves. This of course is not a given with Kondovski so much as a choice, depending on realities of the moment before he begins to paint, of which we may never know.     

Portrait of Hermine Gallia,
Gustav klimt. Oil on canvas. 
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Dimitar Kondovski, "The bystanders" 1990
oil on canvas, 138 x 200 cm. 
Photo courtesy of the
artist's family and 
facebook page administrator 
Nastasa Jovkovska

Dimitar Kondovski "is without a doubt one of the greatest masters of painting we Macedonians have been favored to possess in the history of our painting. Kondovski's complete opus is one of the most profound exegeses of our aesthetic and overall spiritual existence in space and time. In his well known interiors and still lifes, in which there hovers an endless sadness and melancholy and an atmosphere of isolation and abandonment, Kondovski expressed himself as one of our greatest poets in paint. In his works inspired by Macedonian embroidery, this great master soared to the heights of the most brilliant of Macedonian tales. In all of these and in many other of his works Dimitar Kondovski created exceptional pieces, which glow with a magical beauty yet also with the profound radiance of painting as a visual meditation on men's flickering and fragile existence, beneath the vault of heaven".

Dimitar Kondovski, Nikola Jonkov Vapcarov
1977, oil on canvas, 110 x 90 cm. Photo courtesy
of the artist's family and facebook page
administrator Natasa Jovkovska

Kondovski's work has a very post-modern alluring feel. Something altogether familar, surprising and graphic. His is a style that could easily be amongst the paintings of previous greats(Henri de Toulouse Lautrec)or modern, fine art illustrators working with the likes of Neil Gaiman(Sandman, Vertigo comics)and Mike Carey(Lucifer, Vertigo comics). To explore his work is to begin to understand him, the time an place he lived, and the nation it has become. If you would like to see more of Dimitar Kondovski's artwork, check-out his facebook page or: www.nationalgallery.mk/postojana.php 
Studio-Phoenix Blog-Spot would like to thank Meglena Visinska, Natasa Jovkovska, and AHa Piponska for there help. "Art is the reason, art is the way". Article by K.K.W, Cheers!

L.R.S: Part 2

Possible cover for Part 2, vol 1

Land of the rising sun: prt 2

Japan(Kyushu) 1650: The wars waged to unite the lands was at an end with the the Tokugawa in firm control. But the peace brought by bloody swords would not last....for a silent new enemy

would rise.... to challenge,  the Tokugawa.

This is the basic historical back-drop story for L.R.S, Kerwin Kendell Williamson's comic mini-series. In 3 villages on the island of Kyushu a strange sickness begins killing all males between the ages of 16-40, with signs of it spreading throughout the area. Advised by Shinto priests that the sickness is unnatural Lord Shimazu Mitsuhisa (Satsuma province) dispatches his two best agents, Imisu and Hidesato to investigate. 

The two soon realize an underground cult is behind the sickness, but this is only a part of  something beyond the both of them. "At various times the bakufu has had to call upon strange and extraordinary individuals,  to come to it's defense" (Hattori Hanzo). The 2nd part picks up as Imisu (female character, from Iga) goes to meet Hidesato at the dead tree path. From there they both travel to Kyodo village to start the investigating. 

I wanted to create a story based in reality with  strong elements of magic, science, and dramatic action. A more adult story-line not unlike Blade of the Immortal, Lucifer, Hellboy, or "City of walls". Even as a kid the world of  feudal Japan was exciting. Something about the Samurai and their shadowy counter-part (The men &women of Iga), the Martial arts philosophy, it struck a cord in me like many others. Before I took up Painting and film photography, the comic book medium and illustration was my life. Having grown up reading them and various other kinds of stories -  Macbeth, Bram stokers Dracula, The picture of Dorian Gray - I've always had the urge to create worlds and characters doing extraordinary things. I suppose it was only a matter of time before I got to it. 

Having a natural love of history made the research aspect fun, but I tried not to get too deep into it. Historically the Ninja("men & women of Iga")did exist, but there is very little info to be found. They kept their secrets well, and almost never failed to complete their mission. The Samurai of course, was much easier to research. I started with the Basics, drawing as much of their world a possible, deciding on the amount of main characters, and then the way the story would be told. After that, drawing the characters as much as possible, creating variations of their faces, clothes, etc. 

When I started all this I had little training in creating comic books, but I was inspired by my good friend Abede Lovelace(www.cityofwalls.com). So I began constructing what would be the story while beefing up my skills and doing as much research as possible on comics, writing, laying out of panels, inking, etc. It was hell, but oddly enough "...hell doesn't always look like hell, on a good day hell can look a lot like L.A..." (from the movie "Playing God"), N.Y.C, Tokyo, Skopje.  

Despite training, part one had problems. However not in artistic terms, but in spelling mistakes, having to hand write the word balloons, the cover lay-out should have been better. Doing the work of 5 different people by yourself, limited budget, etc. Still it was well received and some money was made, but more importantly, readers liked the look of the art, subject matter and the way the story was told. Great feed back to make the second part better. Look for it this fall everywhere where it can be. "Art is the reason, art is the way". Article by K.K.W

Page #1  L.R.S-vol 1

Page #2 L.R.S, vol 1

Page #3 L.R.S, vol 1

Fujiwara Hidesato, ronin for
hire. The name Hidesato comes
from a mythical warrior who killed a monster
and was rewarded with a bag of rice
that was always filled.   

Momochi Imisu, a ninja from Iga
province. Most women were trained
for only seduction and spying, only a few
were ever trained for combat & spiritual investigation.
Trained by the Koga Ninja's, one of  the most
feared clans in their time.

("Land of the rising sun" and the characters there in are copyright and trademarked 2008. All characters within this publication and the distinct names and likeness thereof are, unless otherwise noted, are the property of Kerwin k Williamson and Studio-Phoenix . None of the content in this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Studio-Phoenix.)

AKTO 6: Contemporary Art Festival

This months cover featuring AHa Piponska
project coordinator for Loft in the RedZone
She was also PR and Production manager 
for AKTO

Filip Jovanovski, of Bitola Macedonia.
Photo courtesy of AKTO.

Often in life its amazing what you might find, and come to know, through meeting just one person. And through an exchange of mind, heart, and things left un-said, you realize a little more about your world. For the past 5 years in Bitola, Macedonia a contemporary arts festival called AKTO has taken place. This year was #6 was certainly the best yet. AKTO's main objective "is to open the cultural frame works of a modern society through 'recomposing' and redefining them in a new context". The festival's program is based on two concepts, the first is space/location. Locations are transformed in terms of their previous meanings. Artwork is taken from their standard locations(museums, galleries, etc)and used for presenting art in an alternative environment. 

Filip Jovanovski, one of the Artists & creative
organizers of the festival. Photo
courtesy of AKTO

While this concept is not new,(through circumstance various artist's has had to resort to this very concept)the difference is the reason why. It is highly modern in its goals, execution and results, often leading to spectacular presentations. If your in New York city, go to City Hall park while there's time and check-out Sol Lewitt's "Structures"(See blog "Articles"- Sol Lewitt). Another great example is "The Gates, by Christo & Jeanne-Claude's(Central park 2005). Objects of art placed in new or odd environments often yield a charming, psychological and emotional problem for the viewer. This concept has been known to cause bouts of anger, apathy, fear, prejudice, contempt, love, and silent emotional understanding. The second concept is the theme for this years festival. In 1953, on the walls of Seine street in Paris, Guy Debord wrote: "Ne travaillez jamais"/never work! Precisely 58 years later on Solunska street in Bitola, the following was written: (Never)work!    

The turn out for the opening was great, lots of support.
Photo courtesy of AKTO.

Walter Steinacher, of Austria. 
Photo courtesy of AKTO

This coincidence was put to use as the theme of this years AKTO festival for contemporary arts. "Once again we will try to go behind the idea of the work, in emotional and material sense, and its meaning today, in contemporary context through the work of about thirty artist. If you would like to know more go to:www.aktofestival.com "Art is the reason, art is the way". Article by K.K.W.

Zoran Poposki, of Macedonia Photo courtesy of AKTO

Filip Jovanovski,  of Bitola Macedonia. Photo courtesy of AKTO

Photo courtesy of AKTO

Dragana Zarevska, of Macedonia Photo courtesy of AKTO

Kanal 103 installation, Macedonia Photo courtesy of AKTO

Beatrice ANdre, of France. Photo courtesy of AKTO

"Believe it or not, the future is Macedonia"
Photo courtesy of AKTO

Kanal 103 installation, Macedonia. 
Photo courtesy of AKTO

Ana Gligorova: Q & A

From the comic strip "Modesti Blejz"

SP: Zdravo Ana, thanks for agreeing to the interview, I know your very busy:)

AG: Zdravo Kerwin, and your very welcome:) I'm Ana Gligorova, born in 1968 from Skopje, Macedonia. I have a postgraduate of culturology studies, and have been director in tv (A1 and A2) of many documentary TV films and video art films (for Council of radiodifusion Makedonija). I'm currently working for the Gothe Institute (tv movie’ In the system “ from 2002), video spots, and TV shows.


SP: What is your opinion of the political state of Macedonia?


AG: When I think about my country, I think about implementing a civil society. What is civil society? It is a form of identity, which differs from all others and has a certain advantage over other forms of identity. Each individual who gives the most up to it can be to his people and the scope of his political community as a good civilian. How much does civil society exist in Macedonia?
I think that in Macedonia civil society doesn't exist in this moment. In my country  the freedom of a "blanket"(comfort) is not enough..  there exists selective art expression that depends on the author and his own culture. Financial resources are always falling into the hands of those who are close to power.


SP: The political videos you posted and have put together, what is the idea(s) behind them? 


AG: Tv video is a tv message. It is a medium koj e refleksiija, which is a reflection of political developments in the world. Mediums to manipulate the truth in in the whole world, and depends on the ideology of the creator in the background .The problem of the media is that the truth is deformed, hiding, or create a new truth..We are "mortgage"(prisoners) of the media, the tie world, nazi horizon,  misery, prison, we are living in. TV and movies create a new world which is full of lies. Mediums are full of simulations of war because the main interest-financial profits or transmitted ideology. How many more live for the moment, electric impulses so you are unable to make an analysis and sentient message that is an id reaction in a social sense. Art in the video field is a result of the inner world of the author or the policy environment.. The message in my videos is always the human factor and there resistance that has been between human and predatory powers  present in a society where we live, apparently on a global scale. 

Ana Gligorova of Skopje

The synthesis of music and pictures and is a collage post-modern suggestive,  the hidden truth behind medijuma.u. That means, I am looking for the truth to be in his videos.


SP: When did you become interested in politics?

AG: I've always been fascinated by human destiny within a system in which they live and so I wished to make use of postmodernism as assistance in the implementation of the video. Archival materjalifallen communist regimes are connected with new world technologies were a fantastic experience for me. As an example, in 2002 for Goethe Institut (“In the system”)I did a video movie that is based on the war in Serbia in 1999. Here I used the archival material of the war in Yugoslavia, and I merged it with clips of world cinema with films that deal with a parody of violence on the planet.


SP: What are the three major changes you think are needed in your government?


AG: Experience "has shown that the each man who has the power in the hands, has an affinity for me to abuse. It goes so far as he can not set limits". 

The first change that needs to happen in my land is the implementation of a true civil society and not its simulation we live. This means that every "author" who can influence that many in his field be helped financially in the form of free speech (the video-free images and text) Second, press freedom is the true path to understanding the reality of everyone in the country.
There needs to be erected, a level of educated people in every sense, especially for understanding the political situation in which they live.


SP: In all parts of the world people want change for the better, through cultural identity and art. How do you see this in Macedonia?

AG: The cultural identity of Macedonians is an important factor for Europe. Changes in Macedonia at the moment are a mixture of progressive and large retrogradnostic factors. Here the old Slavic spirit is present and the new wave propagation of ancient Macedonian cultural values. First, it is a great gap in time about 13 centuries, from Alexander the Great,  Cyril and Methodius, Slovenian teachers. It is a paradox for the synthesis of a cultural identity largely because of the holes in education that appeared in the time of Communism in Macedonia. If you want to know my country has to reform her art, which is mainly Byzantium root, which mixes with Turkish and European cultural factors.
The resurrection of the ancient cultural factors, which is now the same as the trend, as an example, italjanska culture, that is largely based on the Renaissance period that at one point begins to propagate itself as a direct descendant of (cultural) the Roman Empire. Certainly, the identity is a product of culture rather than genes. 


SP: If someone from NYC should want visit Macedonia, what are a few places they should see ?

AG: The largest tourist attraction is the old town of Ohrid, where lived Kliment and Naum (students of Cyril and Methodius). In 10th century there was a literacy orhrid school with about 3,000 students. Ohrid is a city with a maximum of Christian churches in Macedonia. Ancient archaeological sites, it is a city to Samoil, Macedonian king. Skopje is a city where you can see the passing of empires, kings, armies, the city of Justinian - Byzantine emperor, Islamic temples. And now the new attraction is the center of the city - with new sculptures related to the period of the 23rd century, the existence of the Macedonian cultural identity .


Ana, thanks so much for taking the time for Q&A and I hope we can do this again. "Art is the reason, art is the way". Interview by K.K.W

Irena Andonova: Beautiful Art

This months cover featuring AHa Piponska
project coordinator for "Loft in the RedZone".

Sometimes in life meeting one person can lead to many new thoughts, feelings, exchange of ideas, equal amounts of much needed affection, and amazing finds in art & culture. One of these amazing finds is the artwork of Irena Andonova, of Skopje(capital city of Macedonia). Her artwork runs along the lines of traditional(landscapes & gardens) and drawings and paintings that are based in the traditional, but filled with abstract symbolism and deeper meaning.

Irena of Skopje,
photo courtesy of the artist.

Although painting is her current focus, after graduating from The Faculty of Fine Arts,  Painting Department, with fashion design(class of prof Dusan Percinkov in 1998, member of DLUM)she spent time working in various  areas and projects. Spent time creating fashion design, art inspired shoes, worked on story boards, illustrations for a book of poetry, and a make-up artist. Also as an external collaborator in the same field. Irena has also had many group international exhibitions, as well as international workshops in Macedonia(F.Y.R.O.M) and abroad. "I've got a lot of ideas on my mind and I want to create unique things...and I like to experiment, try something new, make some combinations".

"Dry cherry tree", oil on canvas 50x70 cm
courtesy of the artist

When it comes to her paintings of gardens, trees, and plant life, "Dry cherry tree" is on of my favorites. It shows a brilliant use of light, colors and depth of field. The brushwork is strong yet subtle, resulting in wonderful painting that is moving, memorable and full of life. When I look at it I can almost feel the warmth of the light passing through the leaves. The look and feel of "Dry cherry tree" reminds me of the work Mary Cassatt, whose paintings tend have a strong feeling of light, great composition, and a playful vibrance in an otherwise common scene. 

"My garden at night" oil on canvas, 60x80 cm
courtesy of the artist.

"My garden at night" has both the sense of dark and light, reality and illusion. Though its night, the dark only reaches so far, it hardly touches the colorful blooming flowers. Its as if the dark is held at bay by her love of the light and flowers. Again her brushwork adds texture and feeling to the scene and plant life. Along with the composition it lends itself to her idea of the balance between light, dark and the observation of nature. This love affair with gardens and plant life tends to be prevalent among artist who live in urban centers. The subject, gardens, also is a reflection of the artist or a deep yearning, for privacy, seclusion, peace and quite. 

"Kopnez"(Desires) 40"x50", acrylic on paper.
Courtesy of the artist

Irena of Skopje, photo courtesy of the artist

"Kopnezi" is altogether powerful in its striking colors, thick dark lines and seeming movement. The form looks as if its two shapes with faces, an awesome force howling with the fury of desire. The colors evoke the feeling of fire blazing in the dark, or pulling away from it. Born in the void and needing to break free and take root in another world. Its like Francis bacon meets Clifford Still. The bold lines really lends itself to the brushwork and strong color, resulting in a form thats is three dimensional and full of life. Fantastic abstract expressionism. Irena's last solo exhibit was in October 2009 At the N.I culture center, "Anton Panov"- Strumica, Macedonia. In July of 2010 she was a participating artist in the International Kicevska Likoma Kolonija. It takes place every year and different artist from around the world come to create art and form friendships. In 2011 she had a promotional show, "Promocija na zbirka poezija Korab",  for a book of poetry she created illustrations for entitled "Sailboat". The author is Ratka K Damnjanovic, the book was translated into Serbian, Macedonia, and english.  In her own words about her artwork, the inspiration behind it, Irena said, "in touch with nature, the light as a source of the magic, visual information,  and going through the moments of closeness, and connecting in the same time, with interactions between. So the beauty of the one motive is the transformation made by our imagination and sensibility, in the moments of the inspiration. Hidden moments supported from the inner necessity, moments of the speaking of the soul. Vibrations, all that fulfilled with elements of the individual which prove that, 'the landscape is one condition of the spirit'. 'If anything marks the relation between the artist and beauty is not beyond things, it is within them, in everything'. Search for beauty".  If you would like to know more, please send replies to: iandonovaart2000@yahoo.com, or go to: www.dlum.org.mk/en/avtor.asp?id=2  Article by K.K.W, "Art is the reason, art is the way" Cheers!

Irena of Skopje,  photo courtesy of the artist

Irena of Skopje, photo courtesy of the artist.

"Promocija na zbirka poezija Korab" 2011,
photo courtesy of the artist.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Status Report: #001-Codename (AHa)

This months cover featuring AHa Piponska
project coordinator for "Loft in the RedZone"

Its been 7 months since the blog-spot was activated,  in order to understand the artwork and minds of other creative individuals, and promote their work as well. As of June 2011 studiophoenixblogspot is being viewed not only by the United States(which always leads in page-views), a few places in west & eastern  Europe as well. Germany leads in page-views for the west followed by France then Great Britain. Macedonia(FYROM)leads in page-views for eastern Europe followed by Russia. Latvia and and Slovenia are tied for 3rd followed by Ukraine. The blogspot does get page-views and sometimes comments from other parts of the world, China, Japan, Iraq, Iran, however,  it is sporadic. In order for this, our present gains, to be kept and increased, more data is needed, not only from areas where page count is high, also where it's low. This can be achieved by increasing output, minimizing mistakes and utilizing all methods of creativity and directing it at the area, with regularity. So far, page-views by Browers breaks down to Firefox at 27%, Safari at 22% and mobile Safari at 6%(up 5% from May). Page-views by operating system breaks down to Windows at 63%, Mac at 22%, Androids(smart-phones) at 6% and i-pad at 6%(both up 5% from May). In order to increase overall page-views and comments here and abroad, we must increase output coupled with strategic posting based on time, upgrade tech devices(camera's, mobile interface devices, external hard-drives)etc, and post relevant articles in the language of the target area. In addition to all of this a large infusion of Capital is needed to recruit new writers and photographers,  and upgrade our tech. Along with this, minimal advertising via 4x6 photo handouts and maximum flow of electronic advertising using Face, Branch, Link and youtube. In the end, it's all about time and effort. And if 7 months yield can this much through the efforts of one, the addition of people working on the blog will create greater results. "Art is the reason, art is the way".  Article & photo by K.K.W