MIRELA KULOVIC
What are your earliest memories of being artistic? At the age of 13-14 I was setting up an improvised theater with my cousins and friends.
When did art become a pursuit? In winter 2015. I had my art studio space for the first time at Joy Street Studios in Somerville.
Are you self-taught or formally educated in visual art? I don’t have an art diploma, but I do go to different lectures to learn from other people.
How did you first become involved with CAA? I saw National Prize Show in May 2016 and soon I became CAA member.
In what other ways are you involved in the local art community? I am an artist at Bromfield Gallery and member of SoWa Artist Guild.
What role do you think the artist plays in society? Artists add to the society their unique perspective which makes every community more rich. They connect many different things, making their perspective more open than those of engineers, doctors, scientists, priests or politicians. For this reason, artist is the most important individual in the society.
What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium? I work in oil on canvas and do a lot of experimental work on paper.
What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days? The most of my inspiration comes from personal experience of the world. I am fascinated with the mystical landscape and rich history of the Balkans where I grew up.
During painting process I am drawn to uncertainty. This often includes destroying many layers of paint before I decide to keep some of them.
How do you choose your subject matter? Is there a reoccurring theme that carries throughout your work? I always return back to painting landscapes. Some architectural elements appear in them often, like bridges and arches. They are similar but more reduced than those found on the prominent landmarks of my native Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made? I am fascinated by some of my early works from 2012. I didn’t know what I was doing back then, but they look very mature. I like this early work because I wasn’t formal educated in arts. It was a very naive approach, honest and completely mine. I won’t be able to have that kind of approach again. When ever I see new work of other artist I am drawn to, I see how that influence my work.
What is one of your artistic goals for 2018? To finish series of oil paintings of the mystical landscapes for my November solo show in Bromfield Gallery.
What’s your favorite place to see art? Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MET museum in NY.
What living artists are you inspired by? I am inspired by painters Natalija Cimesa, Maya Kulenovic, Anselm Kiefer and by conceptual artist Wolfgang Laib.
Do you own any art by other artists? I own two paintings of Natalija Cimesa.
Do you have any shows coming up? During August my work is on view in the solo show ‘Sve Zaboravljene Stvari’ in Gallery JAVA in Sarajevo. For November I am preparing my solo show ‘All things I have forgotten’ in Bromefield Gallery. I am participating in two group show in September: ’DOUBLE VISION” in Bromfield Gallery and Continuing Education (CE) Student Show at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.
SEE MORE FROM MIRELA!
Website: www.mirelakulovic.com
Facebook: Mirela Kulovic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirelakulovic/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirelakulovic/