Gabrijela Iva Polic (Photograph: Jacqui Turk)

In the Land of Wonderfuls is the title of a solo exhibition of works by academic painter Gabrijela Iva Polic

opened on 3rd December 2015 in Huges Gallery in Sydney, in Australia, whose opening attracted many visitors. Gabrijela Iva Polic presented sixteen works created in the last eight months, reflecting her research into the nature of human relationships. Exploring different connections in nature and among man-made objects, she shows the magical world of colourful ” Land of Wonderfuls “.

Shortly after the opening of Polic’s exhibition in the interview I conducted with her, she said:
Gabrijela Iva Polic: “Most of my paintings are of natural scenes which depict what I like to think of as ‘characters’ that are having some sort of dialogue which each other. One thing always grows from another which is leaning on something else that drips down and waters another thing giving it life and letting it grow. I don’t like to draw or paint things are how they are. I invent my own species of things. I suppose that is how the work can seem somewhat fantastical. The paintings are all about the connections within them. Everything needs to be connected in some way and play a part in the whole, both in the sense of the image and the conceptual idea. Conceptually its all the parts and all the people that make up who you are. Because in a sense I think I am made up of many of those who have played some part in my life. My work explores that.”

Gabrijela Iva Polic:The games and tricks the two friends played

Gabrijela Iva Polic, after graduating from the University of New South Wales’ College of Fine Arts in 2013, she exhibited her paintings in Sydney in 2014, presenting scenes in nature as a metaphor for loving relationships in human that help them grow. For this year’s solo exhibition she prepared pictures which gravitate towards the man made world with elements like machinery.

Jasna Lovrinčević: “Have you anything essential change in your artistic concept
since last year’s exhibition?”
Gabrijela Iva Polic: “The work has definitely developed since I exhibited back in 2014. For the last couple of years it has been relatively simple in composition. Now, the compositions have become more complex, and I’ve added more elements to the pictures than ever before. Another interesting point is that previously my work only comprised a sort o ‘landscape’ theme. Now it also reflects on the built environment by referencing working machines along with man made objects such as jewellery pieces, necklaces & earrings to be specific. This also shows the move away from pictures containing only natural scenes. I’ve slowly starting gravitating to the man made world with elements like machinery.”

Gabrijela Iva Polic: The machine that ran on wonderfuls

My concern is only with the good

Gabrijela Iva Polic: “The work is a reflection of the immaterial nature of the human bond. My earlier work showed this by exploring the workings of symbiotic relationships in nature. And so now it was important to start referencing man made objects in the work, machines because they are constructed specifically to make things work. A machine can be like the network of beautiful human relationships. Some people may say yes, but machines can break just like a bond. But that is not my concern, my concern is only with the good.”

Gabrijela Iva Polic (Photographer: Jacqui Turk)

Jasna Lovrinčević: ” What was your leading idea prepearing your exhibition?”
Gabrijela Iva Polic:”The leading idea was to continue with the same concept I have been concerned with for the past few years – the nature of the human bond. However, along with that, the work is much more playful and fun. In both the compositional structures and colours used. My aim was to bring an element of joy into the work.”

Speakng about nature of human relationships Gabrijela Iva Polic emphasized: ” I can’t speak for anyone but me. I’m just exploring my own world, mainly the bond I myself have with loved ones. Those I hold dear are my muses.”

Gabrijela Iva Polic

Gabrijela Iva Polic, the young painter from Sydney, was preparing her paintings for the exhibition entitled Sydney Who at The Hughes Gallery in Surry Hills from May 01 – June 10., when she answered my questions about her art, her inspiration and her searching for an own way of art expression.

She finished the College of Fine Arts in Sydney at the end of the year 2013, and she was immediately invited to take part in this exhibition at The Hughes Gallery.

Jasna Lovrinčević: “What does this exhibition mean for you?“
Gabrijela Iva Polic: “For me the exhibition is very important because of the gallery I am working with. The Hughes Gallery currently represented very established Australian artists and they have been known to help start the careers of very recognised artists who are now internationally known. I am just happy that a gallery of such stature has acknowledged me at such an early stage in my career.”

Jasna Lovrinčević: “When did you discover your talent for painting and how?“
Gabrijela Iva Polic: “I have been creating things ever since I was a child, and have always loved using my hands. But I must admit when I entered art school I was not a skill-ful painter at all. I struggled with technique a lot at art school, and was not happy with my lack of knowledge in techniques so I would explore alternatives and other media which would hide my lack of knowledge, such as collage or sewing. I always tried to make something beautiful, something I would be proud of, without having to make a proper painting. Last year, 2013, was my final year of university and I was fed up with the fact that I went to art school to learn how to paint, but no teacher really ever taught me anything. I knew I had the desire and the ability to do well at painting if I put my mind to it, but contemporary art schools in Australia rarely teach traditional techniques any more as they push for artists to broaden their mind and create new and exciting things. Much of the time they steer us painters away from painting and lead us to new mediums like video art, photography, sculpture, installation etc. For the reason that I was not increasing my technical knowledge I sought a mentor to teach me techniques I wanted to learn. Her name is Marisa Purcell, she a well recognised and established Australian artist. From our first lesson my skills increased tenfold. I was in the studio every day from 7:30-4 every single day practising, practising, practising and experimenting. I was the only one in school who did this, I was the first one there in the morning and sometimes the last to leave. I got to the stage where I am now, but I still have a lot to learn.”

Jasna Lovrinčević: “Where do you find inspiration?”
Gabrijela Iva Polic: “My latest body of work was inspired by the photographic work of Andres Miguel, in particular ‘Woodland Magic’. This work is a photograph of two mushrooms in a beautiful forest. I discovered that mushrooms or fungus exchange minerals and nutrients for sugar with surrounding trees. This photograph made me think of our relationships as humans, and how we give nutrients to each other in the form of loving relationships (friends, family etc). I always think of a quote by C.S. Lewis who once said “It is our friendships that give value to survival”. The idea of these relationships that have intrinsic value in our lives is why I adorn some of the paintings with cell-like patterns that can look like pearls or clusters of diamonds, necklaces or jewellery. In saying this, my work is deeply personal and most of the pictures and compositions come from my own imagination, intuition and emotions. I have only recently (the last week) begun to look at scientific botanical illustration so I can continue and expand this body of work.

Jasna Lovrinčević: “I have seen some of your paintings with beautiful schapes and colours. Some of them remind me of some sea-creatures or cells, what does it mean; life as inspiration, or life creation as inspiration, or God’s creation as eternal beauty….”
Gabrijela Iva Polić: “You are very right in seeing creatures and cells in the paintings. Many times these creatures in my paintings have relationships and connections to each other where they are feeding off, growing from and nurturing one another. In nature, these relationships between different species are called mutualistic relationships. Here one creature/animal/plant will help the other survive by protecting them and giving them nutrients. I use these creatures and scenes in nature as a metaphor for how we live in relationships as humans. Without our loving friends and family, our lives are dull. They give us joy, purpose, support and emotional strength. This, I think is what like is all about, these connections and relationships. Without them we would have nothing and our souls would be dull. Throughout life we meet many people on the way. As we interact and spend time with friends, we sometimes unknowingly, learn from them, take on some of their interests, ways of thinking or speaking, and develop as a person. Through all of these relationships we blossom into the person that we are. It is just like how flowers and bees work.

Jasna Lovrinčević: “You have once mentioned that love is your inspiration; if you could please say more about that. Where does it reflect; in your choice of colours, or motives, or in something else?”

Gabrijela Iva Polic: “My teachers would always say to me, paint about what is important to you. Many young and contemporary artists make art about politics and all the things that are wrong with this world. I am not concerned with politics, I have never cared much for it, I am interested in the things that make me joyful and the things that bring me to despair. Although joy and sadness are completely different, much of the time these strong emotions come from love. Love, can equally make us blissful or distraught. Through the act of painting, I seek to understand love and it’s impact on myself. When I am making a painting, sometimes I remember a hard time in my life and I tap into those emotions. I think of the people who were with me, how they protected me and cared for me. I think of the love hold in my heart for my dearest ones and try to put this into the work. As I mentioned before, it is these loving relationships that help us grow. I think this can be seen in the colour and compositions. How the elements in the picture work together and talk to each other.”

Jasna Lovrinčević: “What do you think: is it hard for young artists to be original, to find their own way, or own style of painting?”
Gabrijela Iva Polic: “At first I think it is very hard to develop your own language as an artist. But I think this comes with time and persistence. The only way you will be original and develop your own style is to work every single day.”

Jasna Lovrinčević: “What kind of technique do you prefer?”
Gabrijela Iva Polic: “Sometimes I can sit and paint dots all day because it is very meditative. Other times I can be more free with a large brush. It really depends on how I am feeling on the day.”

Jasna Lovrinčević: “Who is your favourite painter? Is there any painter who has influenced your work?“
Gabrijela Iva Polic: “Del Kathryn Barton has always been a large influence from the start of my studies. The sense of connection in her work is always what draws me in.
Ross Bleckner is another artist I am inspired by.”

Gabrijela Iva Polic has also mentioned the names of her famous teachers like David Eastwood, famous for painting interiors, Oliver Watts, theorist, lecturer, and artist, famous for portraiture and Marisa Purcell, famous for her abstract paintings.

Gabijela was born in Sydney. Her origin is Croatian. Her parents came to Australia from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Gabriela often travels to Europe.