Biography of Maja VODANOVIC

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Split, Croatia in 1968, Maja Vodanovic moved to Montreal in 1975. She studied art with Renate Heidersdorf for six consecutive years and received her degree in Art History from McGill University and a degree in Fine Arts from Concordia University. She has been teaching art and concentrating on her own artistic career since 1989. Maja has been showing her work at Galerie Valentin since 1998.

SUBJECTS / THEMES

Maja Vodanovic explores the traditional still-life genre and has created, through collage and other techniques a new and different visual language through which objects and figures tell timeless stories set in a sensual atmosphere. Her subjects are spontaneously and freely chosen: she paints what truly touches her at a given moment. Her approach is intuitive, as she tries to communicate the movement of an idea, to tell a visual story, sensually and passionately with paint rather than with words. The ephemeral, illusory aspect of beauty is difficult to capture, but that is exactly what she sets out to do.

TECHNIQUE / MEDIUM

Maja uses watercolour on canvas or board, prepared with a gesso base. This technique allows her to modify and rework the surface and structure of the painting. The results are surfaces rich in colour and texture. Varnish is used over the watercolour and gouache to “fix” the colour and protect it. Since 2007, the artist has also worked with acrylic ink and watercolour on wood panel.

EXHIBITIONS

2013-2000        Artists’ Choice – Group Show, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

2013-1998    Small-size works – Group Show, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

2011                 Solo, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

2010                 Rideau Hall, Ottawa

2010                 Centre culturel de Lachine, l’Entrepôt

2009-2010         Galerie Vincent, Ottawa

2009-2010         Balzac Gallery, Toronto

2009                 Croatian Embassy, Ottawa

2007                 Recent Works, Solo, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

2006                 Flora, Group Show, Musée Marc-Aurèle Fortin, Montreal

2006                 Webster Galleries, Calgary

2004                 Recent Works, Solo, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

2003                 Solo, Musée Marc-Aurèle Fortin, Montreal

2002                 Bar kao Inspiracija, Bar Museum, Montenegro

2001-2009         Galerie Yvon Desgagnés, Baie-Saint-Paul

2000-2011         Artists’ choice – Galerie Valentin, Montreal

1999                 Self-portraits – Group Show, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

1999                 Solo, Municipal Gallery, Kirkland

1998                 Solo, Municipal Gallery, Beaconsfield

1997                 Group Show, Three Owls Studio & Gallery, Vankleek Hill, Ontario

1996                 Group Show, Galerie Wilder & Davis, Montreal

1994                 Altérité, Group Show, Maison de la Culture Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal

1994                 Solo, Thomson House, McGill University, Montreal

1994                 Collage, Group Show, Galerie W, Complexe du Canal Lachine

1993                 Solo, VAV Gallery, Concordia University Concordia, Montreal

1990                 Solo, Bar, Cetinje et Vleinj Museums, Montenegro

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Séguin, Marilou, “Maja Vodanovic: le temps en tableaux”, Journal de Montreal, June 2, 2007

Seleanu, André, “Magie de l’Adriatique: Maja Vodanovic, œuvres récentes”, Vie des Arts, No. 207, Summer, 2007 http://www.erudit.org/culture/va1081917/va1094584/2039ac.pdf

Lehmann, Henry, Visual Art and Culture Section, The Gazette, Montreal, May 5, 2007

“Maja Vodanovic: Actualiser la peinture ”, Parcours, l’informateur des arts, Vol. 10, No. 3 Fall 2004

Rosenberg, Dan, “Billy Two Rivers portrait featured at art exhibition launching”, Eastern Door, Vol. 13, No. 42, November 12, 2004

Villeneuve, Paul, “Maja Vodanovic, la figure politique”, Journal de Montreal, November 20, 2004

Levy, Bernard, “Climats: Maja Vodanovic, la figure politique”,Vie des Arts, No. 196, Fall 2004 http://www.erudit.org/culture/va1081917/va1098367/52671ac.pdf

“Maja Vodanovic”, 24 heures, Vol. 4, No. 174, November 18, 2004

“Art et environnement”, Métro, Vol. 4, No. 178, November 15, 2004

Nagy, Judy, “Artist paints for change”,The Gazette, Montreal, April 29, 2004

INTERVIEWS

    Dialogue, with Guillaume Lumière, CKUT Radio McGill (90.3 FM), August 2005
    Le 4 à 6, with Arnauld Aubin, CIBL Radio Montreal (101,5 FM), November 2004

AWARDS

Prize Essor 2012 of The Ministry of Culture and Education for the project “art and water”