
Ana Milenkovic
Quietism

Advertisement







Ana Milenkovic: Quietism
4 May - 10 June
Quietism by Ana Milenkovic presents a new series of paintings which demonstrate a marked evolution of her previous
practice. Rather than drawing upon literature and historic mythologies for her subjects, she examines how public and
cultural figures who represent us as a society are mythologised in our media - held up as heroes and villains or otherwise
dehumanised.
The title of the exhibition, Quietism, comes from a
dialogue in Dostoyevskyâs The Idiot. Prince Myshkin, an
embodiment of goodness and virtue, returns to Russia
from abroad, where unintentionally, he gets pulled into
society and its intricacies. Unaware of the social codes,
relationships and individual vanities, he comes across as
inept and foolish.
The exhibited paintings are based on fragments from press
photographs and the artistâs own objects and images. Torn
out of context, familiar figures and objects can be
interpreted according to the viewerâs beliefs and
assumptions. The series continues the artistâs interest in
heroisms, in particular, those taking our assumed values
and principles to extremes, transitioning from the
mundane to the extraordinary.
The paintingâs imbalanced compositions, in which
characters and objects play secondary roles, reflect the
artistâs struggle to process information - received through
the media and her own social interactions. The rush of
fractured information and the unabating speed in which it
is delivered results in a tendency to sensationalise in favour
of considered opinions, informed decisions and lasting
emotions.
However, Milenkovic assures us that the artworks are not
created in anger or despondence - rather, she tries to
capture the uplifting moments of clarity and
determination. She asserts that as overwhelming as the
pace and variety of media is - it can also be incredibly
inspiring. We are allowed a unique position in history to
draw influence from everywhere at once, without dogma
or direction. In acknowledgment of the polyphony of ideas
and influences that fed Quietism, Milenkovic has prepared
the following document of curated inspirations: click here.