On Monday, March 24, the exhibition "Archaeology" was solemnly opened at University Gallery, a dynamic space increasingly shaping Split's cultural scene.
This exhibition features recent works by this prominent contemporary artist, created using the technique of encaustic, an ancient method which bounds pigment with wax, allowing the creation of rich textures and subtle transitions of light and shadow. Intertwining the sensory and the intuitive, Matić's paintings become almost palpable, scenes in which forms melt, disappear, and re-emerge from the dark and bright surface rhythm.
"I chose encaustic as a technique because it allows for working in layers. Wax dries quickly, so multiple layers can be created in a short time. As soon as it cools, the layer is dry, which allows for creation of thicker surfaces in just a few hours, if that is the goal. This technique perfectly matches my artistic intention in the moment," said the artist Mitar Matić.
Special contribution to the event was made by a video by Goran Škofić, who documented the process of creating paintings, offering the public an insight into the layered world of Matić's art, while the exhibition was presented by curator Sabrina Žigo.
True to his recognizable expression, Mitar Matić in this series explores the boundaries of painting perception.
"My painting is a present fact—something I am engaged with at this moment. However, my artistic intention corresponds with facts from the past, with those that have existed for a long time. The way I work also reflects this relationship: painting’s layers are formed and change, just as archaeological findings change over time, decay, transform, and reveal new dimensions. In this parallel, I see the connection between modern painting and archaeology, a discipline that encompasses a long period of time," stated the author.
The exhibition was created in collaboration with City of Rijeka’s Museum and will remain open until April 7, 2025.
