Marina Orlić

The characters in Marina Orlić's cycle of the same name inhabit an identifiable world of the recognisable.However, they do not inhabit the world of reality; and even though her sculptures and busts appear to share the lineaments of portrayed faces, Marina Orlić utilizes them and interpret the world around her in an inspired, playful and imaginative way. And her comments of this world are definitely unique, which is evident when one observes, scrutinises her work carefully; because her work is actually studies of her contemplation of life. The fact that the facial expressions, stances and gestueres of these invented characters (even though some may resemble real people) are used to depict and visualise her concepts of life and real-life situations, stems naturally from her inherent need to question herself and her observation and perception of daily life. They are her contemplative and visual notes on dilemmas and experiences, the transience of time and on memories and reminiscences. She has integrated all this within her „Characters“ in the form of personal aspect of artistic perception, transforming the real and observed into her own imaginative and creative authentic mutation of the same. Therefore, although these characters may seem real, they have been once removed and exist on the verges of reality. And, as there seems to be a meditative accord between the seen and the imagined, between the physical and the spiritual, and between the serious and the grotesque, they convey messages of differing tonalities, embracing the lyrical and poetic, irony, and even wittiness. The author seems to immerse herself within worlds of a variety of human souls, and then shapes the imagined characters types through an emotional filter and in conjunction with her own vibrant spirit according to the pulsing rhythm of her personal intimate soul.

Višnja Slavica Gabout