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Biography of Maja VODANOVIC
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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
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Séguin, Marilou, “Maja Vodanovic: le temps en tableaux”, Journal de Montreal, June 2, 2007
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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
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Lehmann, Henry, Visual Art and Culture Section, The Gazette, Montreal, May 5, 2007
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“Maja Vodanovic: Actualiser la peinture ”, Parcours, l’informateur des arts, Vol. 10, No. 3 Fall 2004
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Rosenberg, Dan, “Billy Two Rivers portrait featured at art exhibition launching”, Eastern Door, Vol. 13, No. 42, November 12, 2004
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Villeneuve, Paul, “Maja Vodanovic, la figure politique”, Journal de Montreal, November 20, 2004
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Levy, Bernard, “Climats: Maja Vodanovic, la figure politique”,Vie des Arts, No. 196, Fall 2004 http://www.erudit.org/culture/va1081917/va1098367/52671ac.pdf
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“Maja Vodanovic”, 24 heures, Vol. 4, No. 174, November 18, 2004
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“Art et environnement”, Métro, Vol. 4, No. 178, November 15, 2004
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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”
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