Tag: art critique

The Visual Poetics of the Charismatic Painter Jordan Manasijeski presented in a Comprehensive Monograph – Toni Dimkov

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The monograph that was unveiled on November 22 in the art gallery of MANU in Skopje is a

significant work and a testament to the captivating creative endeavor of the Ohrid artist Jordan

Manasijeski.

The author of the monograph is the art critic Vladimir Velichkovski, the editoris the Ohrid

gallerist Ljupco Župan, and it was published by Jordan Manasijeski Art Foundation.The

president of MANU Ljupcho Kocarev, an academician, delivered a welcoming speech at the

book launch, and the promoter of the book at the event was prof. Dr. Ivica Djeparoski.

Jordan Manasijeski has dedicated his life and work to Ohrid, a city with a rich tradition that

includes contemporary art. He has been actively paintingsince 1985 and exhibiting since 1991.

Previously,he worked on graphic and shape design as an employee at Lihnida factory from

Ohrid. He dedicated much of his time to painting landscapes featuring Ohrid motifs, showcasing

both the lakeside and the old town architecture.

‘He is a member of the Ohrid landscapers, he has immersed him self in vibrant colors and

unrestricted movements, reaching a pinnacle in canvases painted since 2001.This period

marks a transformative journey, giving rise to imaginative landscapes characterized by the

dominance of light and a pursuit of an envisioned pristine world’, Vladimir Velichkovski has

pointed out.

“We are children of the sun, and love is the truth. Life unfolds as a sacred joy, a gift that

awakens emotions guiding us to reach the source of holy water and drink from the Eternal

Beauty of the heavenly spectrum and the Great Secret”, through multi-layered symbolism,

Jordan Manasijeski speaks about the inspirations behind his artistic creation.

‘Describing the paintings of Jordan Manasijeski is not an easy job with out an understanding of

his extensive body of work, as well as the charismatic, spiritually charged nature of his

individuality.His creativity, above all, emanates from his vision through which he authentically

and selflessly presents us with the primordial THOUGHT manifested in expressive use of the

color. Driven by his”vocation”, Jordan creates works of art using a vibrant palette rich in

mystical symbolism and a mysterious language of the subconscious. Through his art work, he

reveals to us his concern for the human soul and explores his own identity’, says Ljupco Župan,

owner of the Ohrid Bukefal gallery and editor of Jordan Manasijeski’s monograph.

It seems that the creativity and visual poetics of Manasijeski receives greater recognition abroad

than from the domestic art public. The renowned Italian curator and critic Dr. Salvatore Russo is

deeply impressed by Manasijeski’s paintings.

Very often I find my self pondering the question, who is a true artcritic? I have come to the

conclusion that time alone is the ultimate judge of art. Only time can discern the losers from

winners. In this context, the Macedonian artist Jordan Manasijeski deserves to be singled out.

He is an artist who places color and symbol at the core of his visual analysis.

Unlike his predecessors faced with informal painting, such as Pollock, Klein, Mathieu, Tapies,

SamFrancis, Jordan Manasijeski takes an innovative approach–skill fully integrating figures

into the informal structure. He delves into secret mysteries. Hamlet’s dilemmas, verbal

paradoxes, dialogue that transcends mere symbolism.A true tempest of lines and colours – as

notes by Russo.

Toni Dimkov

(The text was published in Kulturen Pechat number 206, in the printed edition of the newspaper

Sloboden Pechat on November 25-26, 2023)

Critical review

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Inspired by Manasijeski’s latest paintings, the Italian art historian Dr. Salvatore Russo writes a critical review that will be published in the next publications Art International and in Mono-graphic issue for Jordan Manasijeski.

Jordan Manasijeski

 Who still thinks that art is essentially a question of beauty and respect for the rules: IS WRONG. Contemporary art, especially in recent years, breaks every kind of rule. Testimony of this, the latest New York exhibitions and our BIENNIAL. The “illuminated minds” seem to prefer an art that is a clear refusal of classical art. In this regard, it is sufficient to see the record prices of the American or London auctions, where Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Richter and Yayoi Kusama are the main examples. Contemporary art is a battlefield. Every artist fights his personal war; each of them wants to conquer the scepter of power. That scepter that makes it eternal and brings it to history books. Very often I wonder who the real art critic really is. I have come to a conclusion: time is the true critic of art. Only time can decree the losers and the winners. In this context, the Macedonian artist Jordan Manasijeski deserves a special mention. An artist who puts color and sign at the center of his visual analysis. Unlike his predecessors who have been confronted with informal painting, I want to recall for example: Pollock, Kline, Mathieu, Tapies, Sam Francis, Jordan Manasijeski has a more innovative approach: capable of placing figures in the informal structure. Arcane mysteries. Hamletic doubts. Verbal paradoxes, dialogue beyond the sign. Real storms of lines and color. This is the scenario that the observer finds in front of him, observing the works of Manasijeski. Confessions of the soul. Authentic visions, which the artist, through his great expressive power, turns into a sign. The gesture is that of action painting. Jordan screams his truths on a canvas that becomes his life diary; a diary where to write the most significant memories and emotions. Over the years, I came across different informal realities. Realities that have not always left me with a positive “taste”. I must say that, instead, I find the informal world of Manasijeski, really interesting. A world that knows no limits, or illusory barriers; a world born from the mind of the artist, through an exquisite representative elegance. In the now eternal battle, begun with the birth of man, between darkness and light, in the works of the artist we find the great triumph of light. The darkness is brought into new contemporary paradises, and slowly they are transformed into light. The light is that of hope and change. I want to compare the artist’s creations to powerful volcanic eruptions. Eruptions that are characterized by the magmatic power with which the color invades, in my view in a completely legitimate way, the canvas, which turns into a real battlefield. A battle that the knights of light fight against armies dressed in shadow. A battle that has the final outcome, the triumph of an art that has the objective, that of narrating beauty, through real rainbows of light. Observing these works, we immediately realize the great harmony with which they are realized. Manasijeski succeeds in the difficult task of shaping the light. A light that takes on infinite shades of sign and color. The modus operandi of the artist is certainly of great critical importance. A Master able to restore the order of things. The sign, therefore, is no longer forced to wander in the void; it is no longer “stateless” in no-man’s land; but finally, it finds its new citizenship on a canvas that houses the most beautiful narratives in Jordan’s world. A world in which the fog disappears, to leave room for the infinite beauty of color and its magic on canvas. Manasijeski is therefore an artist with highly sought-after visual poetics. His analyzes and continuous experimentation are bringing him into the great scenario of contemporary art: what really matters. A scenario that places him today, among the greatest contemporary artists.

 

Salvatore Russo

Rome 15 June 2019

The jury of the prestigious “Biennale of the Nations” in Venice awarded the artist Jordan Manasijeski with the “REPORTING QUALITY JURY PRIZE”

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The jury of the prestigious “Biennale of the Nations” in Venice awarded the artist Jordan Manasijeski with the “REPORTING QUALITY JURY PRIZE” quality award, for a style that is a tendency for new trends in art.
Manasijeski, who has long been known and recognized in the art world both inside and outside Macedonia, is among 20 out of 170 artists that the jury selected and decided to reward.

It must be noted that this is one of the more significant awards that confirm the quality and high achievements in art that reflect the high level of the art of Jordan Manasijeski.

The Biennale of the Nations Venice Art Expo is an event that involves contemporary painting, sculpture, graphics, video art and ceramic art and is considered a great world event. The aim is to make a cross-section of the trends and trends of contemporary art presented by authors from around the world. The Biennale of the Nations is held in the prestigious Palace of the “Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Misericordia” from March 16-19, 2018.

The selection was on curators at the Biennale – Francesco Saverio Russo, Sandro Serradiflco and Salvatore Russo, supported by the jury – art critics Marko Rebuzzi (Diocesan Museum Mantova), Angelo Crespi (IL Giornale OFF critic and publicist) and prof. Luca Beatrice (former curator of the Italian pavilion at the 53rd Venetian Art Biennale).

Here is an excellent opportunity for the art lovers to enjoy the work “Pending” by the painter Jordan Manasijeski the award-winning picture of this year’s International Biennial of Nations exhibition in Venice will be exhibited in the gallery “Bukefal” Ohrid for the next two weeks, said owner Ljupco Zupan permanent promoter of the Manasijeski’s’ work in the world.