Mezzotint, acquatint, vernis-mou, copperplate-engraving, dry point, reservage – the techniques which are today masterly used by Mr. Sergej BULIC have beenn eglected by a great number of contemporary graphic artists. Why? One of the reasons certainly lies in the fact that these graphic techniques request a solicitous care and aquite particular sensitivity demanding knowledge, courage for some kind of experiment, butalso a sense for postponement of pleasure cognition. It seams to us that the eruption of art visions is more easily to be brought directly by hand except if an individuality of anexceptional graphic sensitivity we meet with Mr. Sergej Bulic is in question.
The field of interest and preoccupation of this artist stretches fromthe most subtle cognition of erotic and sensuality to contrasting visions of the Earth andUniverse. Making technical advantages of the above-mentioned graphic technics, the youngartist has successfully united sensitivity and personal sensuality thus realizingexceptional works of art, in which he has defined for himself various dilemmas andreleased extraordinary energy and showed to use successful coordination of sensation,cognizance and craftsmanship.
Soft tissues, fossils, air spaces, curves and bellows are the motivesemerging from subconsciousness, which he consistently reveals, analyzes and presents as acontemplative warp, but, first of all, with the intention to cause a sensual reaction,adventure and then also a cognition. It is rather strange that the artist of such asensitivity achieves, almost with magic just through media, a strength of feelings on theborder of consciousness and subconsciousness between Real and Imaginary. The graphiccycle, developed in the period from 1991 to 1994, is a safe foundation of the artist, who- through his works of art – has already now filled a gap in the field of the traditionalgraphic expression with us.
When appeared for the first time at the Zagreb Biennale of Graphic Artwithin the Chamber of Graphics of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991, wealready noticed his promising work with a graphic under the title “TITLELESS”carefully designated with the number 6/7 as if he wanted to clearly indicate a directionof movement and announce his personal capabilities. Today we know quite certainly thatthis work of art is not a result received by chance (as it is usually thought when astudent’s work is in question) but a safe step forward in a characteristic artistexpression.
The air-filled ellipsoidal bellows, when pressed, achieves softhorizontal bends outlining a pliant air substantiality of the internal and a tight surfacemembrane.
During the next year he has presented to us soft tissues, fossils,bellows but also infinite air spaces. The acquatints such as “AMONG THEM” and“KISS” in a combination with the copperplate-engraving show a strange feeling for anepidermis, softness of shapes and complexion as well as fine bends of curves. In thefollowing 1992 he completes the same visions by means of an acquatint technique,summarizing in the graphic sheet named “Everything” the symbolic of sky and earth,woman and sun in the overall expanse. The artist is capable to make a fine differentiationof hard stone porous elements and transparent soft tissues on the same sheet usingtechnical possibilities. His works “THE NAKED MUSSEL” or “MORNING” are deep andstrong bonds with the primordial Erotica and Experience. “THE NAKED MUSSEL” is a realshelf in its substantiality but also a male and female sexual organ in its softness andpliancy. And if the associations extending back to childhood are looked for, it is quitecertain that Life with Sea has crucially characterized a creative impulse of this artist.
At any rate, on this occasion his work “TO OUTLIVE SPACE”(Vernis-mou, acquatint, 1993) shall be emphasized. Owing to knowledge and sense anextraordinary differentiation of the substantiality of soft bellows, fossils of a wave andan air wide space has been achieved just by means of secretes of this graphic technique.
Through this selection the artist has proved that he is capable toconform his volition with the internal dictation of a creative impulse and thecapabilities of the selected graphic technique.
Slavica MARKOVIC
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Sergej Bulic
Born 1968 in Zagreb. Graduated from the Academy of Fin eArts, Zagreb in 1993 at the department of Graphics in the class of Frane Paro. He is amember of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists. Lives and works in Zagreb.
