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1. December 1999, by ARTnewspaper.com, "Looking For A New Masaccio"
2. December 1996, by Bela Duranci, Art Historian
3. November 1995, by Slobodan S. Sanader, Art Historian, "Paintings of Emotional Truth"
Mr. Slobodan S. Sanader, Art Historian
November 17, 1995
Ms. Branislava Duranovic was born in Subotica, FR Yugoslavia, in 1969. She graduated from the Art Academy of Cetinje, Montenegro, FR Yugoslavia, in 1992. In 1993 she was already granted membership in the Association of Vojvodina Artists. The same year, Ms. Duranovic's paintings were on exhibition at the Gallery belonging to the Association. This exhibition was followed by another, independent one in Novi Sad, and it was a huge success. Moreover, it is to be mentioned that as a fourth-year student, Ms. Duranovic had some of her paintings exhibited at the exhibitions organized by the art students. These exhibitions of hers, best justified all the hopes placed in this promising painter.
Born in the second half of the 20th century, and starting her career in the same period, the time of dozens and dozens of art schools - from art realism, across conceptual art, to the so called art practice; of non-existence of big, mythical artists to be looked up to (even if such names do appear, the myth about them has been "torn apart" soon enough); of a lack of dialoge between the artists belonging to different schools; a young painter like Ms. Duranovic must have found it extremely difficult which school to choose. As a result, she like many others of her generation, has decided to cherish the unique art poetics.
Monitoring carefully all the events around her, Ms. Duranovic has gained a full comprehension of the time in which she lives. She has, therefore, chosen a contemporary, modern artistic expression and has managed to win her battle for the authentic artistic SELF. What is it that Ms. Duranovic paints? Reaching for the linear armature she, in her authentic way, paints everything that she sees or experiences. Her works are equisite examples of plastic, anatomical and emotional truth. In the beginning these were portraits, still lifes, compositions and nudes painted with strong colors, but eventually the colors have been reduced to red, grey and black, the focus of attention being the human body - nudes, as it is the case with her latest paintings.
Some of the works give the impression of portals hiding the complex essence of Ms. Duranovic, the voluminous nudes, perfect drawings, harmonious colors... The town of Subotica is right to be proud of being the birth place of a "jewel" like Ms. Duranovic, and indeed her works have shined as jewels do at the exhibition in Subotica. It is only for us to wish Ms. Duranovic to have an even brighter career.
(Translated from Serbian)
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