Nikola Smilkov’s sculptural exhibition ‘A Gaze at the Sky’ presented at the Posavje Museum Brežice comprises thirty-three works
of art. The exhibited works are small-dimension figural sculptures made of stone and bronze. The artist’s main subject is the human
figure, simplified to its basic forms that are still easily recognisable. The
sense of bodily movement and tension in the depictions is the result of
the artist’s well-thought-out and masterful treatment of lines. The use
of Prilep marble, which signifies how attached the artist is to his Macedonian roots, allows for a special softness in the way the materials are
sculpted. Through special patination techniques, the works in bronze
bring an element of colour to the sculptor’s oeuvre, thus setting these
works apart from the black-and-white aesthetic, which is characteristic
of his works in marble in particular. The artist works bronze in various
ways, thus exploring the visual results of different treatments, ranging
from the aforementioned patination to mechanical surface treatment
and polishing. The figures in bronze are combined to form a whole with
stone bases, often made of different rocks in a variety of shades and
textures.
The exhibited works showcase the artist’s creation between 2018 and
2023. During this period, the works were created in special circumstances caused by the global pandemic, which undeniably influenced their
form and content. The experience of social isolation has seeped into the
meaning of these sculptural works and is also expressed through their
titles.
You are kindly invited to step inside a world characterised by the exploration of space and the human figure, and learn more about the sculptor’s creative work.
Maruša Erpič,
Art Historian, Exhibition Coordinato
