The project Personal Encounters for Two: Lives of Others by artist Ivana Filip was initiated during the coronavirus pandemic and continues to develop to this day. It centres around an interactive concept in which the artist invites individuals to engage in conversations within a space especially designed for this purpose. This project is more than just a simple artistic work; it is an educational and creative process in which the artist establishes personal connections with individuals. During the sessions, Ivana Filip engages participants in dialogue, sharing her knowledge and experiences while encouraging them to reflect on and express their feelings and viewpoints. Each encounter provides an opportunity for learning, contemplation, and a deeper understanding of our connection with nature and with Others. The artist not only challenges people to confront the issue of nature conservation but also to examine their personal relationships with it. She prompts them to recall their memorable encounters with nature, animals, or plants, reflecting on the emotions they evoke, as well as their life stories linked to these experiences. Through these meetings, participants exchange experiences, knowledge, questions, advice, and stories.
In a time when humanity’s relationship with nature is often disrupted by industrial and consumerist trends, this project shifts the focus back to what truly matters – the personal, authentic experience of nature and Others, and the importance of cultivating harmonious relationships with our environment. Each encounter holds the potential for a cathartic experience, enabling the creation of new stories that connect us with nature and with one another.
The collected content, discussions, audio and video recordings, and other materials, are used by the artist to inform her works, resulting in intriguing forms that showcase various visual structures rich in poetic connotations. The production process encourages a reciprocal interaction between different media, which in turn reflect one another; interdisciplinary processes occur across drawing, photography, collage, video, and literature.
From the beginning of her artistic career, Ivana Filip has demonstrated that each exhibition is underpinned by detailed development, reinforced by an original execution form, thus establishing a new visual aesthetic that aligns with the conceptual component. Her works exhibit a strong sense of synthesis. The exhibitions are not merely compilations of individual pieces or selected exhibits; instead, they form cohesive entities of the higher order that must be viewed as one intricate artwork, highlighting the artist’s ability to employ a specific exhibition language. Ivana Filip’s creative process is distinctly personal, reflecting her own rhythm and temperament. She steadfastly follows her inner voice, remaining true and consistent to herself, her beliefs, and her thoughts. This dedication fosters a uniquely individual contemporary approach characterised by a spirit of exploration and artistic freedom, unrestrained in the quest for forms, materials, and techniques.
Ivana Filip’s artwork is first and foremost something we experience, before we begin to analyse it. With every revisit, we uncover new layers of beauty, revealing the artist’s ability to delve into the primordial, mysterious, and poetic rhythms of life. Her pieces are sophisticated, subtle, and sensitive, transforming nature into art, as well as reinterpreting everyday reality into art in a way that is effortless, poetic and visually engaging.
Through her work, Ivana Filip opens doors to a world of imagination, beauty, and meaning. Her work invites introspection, fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves and our surroundings, while revealing the hidden beauty found in simplicity. Her art is a true gift that encourages us to connect with our emotions and deepens our understanding of our bond with nature and all living beings who share the Earth alongside us.
Ivana Filip is a Croatian artist and activist known for her exploration of the relationship between humans and other living beings, combining different disciplines and media in her work. She holds an MA in Economics from the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb, an MA in Arts from the Master Performing Public Space programme at Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts in Tilburg, Netherlands, and a BA in Fine Arts (Moving Image Department) from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
A heartfelt thank you to: Tonči Kranjčević Batalić and Mici; A.G.; Alen Krstulović, Miki, Kiki, Rea and Rio; Martina Freyja Kartelo and Biljka; Nikolina Martić, Miki and Coce; D.P.; Ada Reić and Riva; Andrea Resner, Richie and Jimmy; Jasmina Šarić; K. T. and Laki; Marija Stipišić Vuković and Biljke. Appreciation is also extended to all Other human and more-than-human beings who participated in this co-creation.
