Dragan Simic

About Dragan Simic

Dragan Simic was born in Nis, Serbia, Yugoslavia in 1960, into the artistic family of Gina, his mother and Zile/Jules, his father. Meal times in this household were large gatherings of relatives and friends and were filled with laughter and arguments focused on artistic expression and creativity. Dragan and his older brother were encouraged to be passionate, political and controversial whilst developing their artistic abilities. Dragan immigrated to Australia in 1984 to explore a less homogenized frontier. He commenced his Diploma of Fine Arts in Perth. He has had exhibitions and showings both solo and with other new artists that have become known as 'names to collect'. Now settled in Melbourne, Dragan has decided to focus full-time on the development of his art and the unusual expression of his style. He is represented in many corporate and private collections worldwide. Artist Statement: I've exhibited my works in different places in Australia and Internationally in porcelain painting, acrylics on canvas, murals, mixed media, My works were more realistic and figurative in the past , but now are abstract. Plentiful layers of illusive patterning pigment stalagmites and complex abstraction characterize my works. Acrylic collage on canvas, and colour as a psycho-physiological stimulus, creates a palette dominated by earthen hues such as olive, teal, rust, gold mapping the 'geography of inner experience'. As an artisan and nomad my voyage from my native country to Australia via the expansive terrain known as the Nullabor Plain marked the emergence of a strong vertical line in my work. This fused with my appropriation of classic Australian Aboriginal motifs to forge a quicksilver topography which carries the viewer through a psychological subterranean dusk. My goal from this point was to reflect the difficult concept of humanity through faces in the unconscious mind. I am trying to achieve that through surrealism or abstract styles even speaking with the subconscious of the human beholder through colour scale. I believe that such complex concepts as love, friendship, loyalty, equality and others may be expressed by abstract faces. I believe that the visual view may have more influence on society than a piece of paper. Upcoming Exhibitions: 2016/17 Solo Exhibitions, SEYHOUN GALLERY, 9007 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, Ca. 90069, USA 2016/17 Collaborative work with prominent Finnish artist Mari J. Wihanto in Helsinki, Finland, Italy and Spain. 2016 “Standing Naked”, Glenelg Art Gallery, Glenelg, SA.

Solo Exhibitions: 2016. “Standing Naked”, Without Pier Gallery, Cheltenham, Vic. 2014. “Homage to Joan Miro“ one day Party Exhibition, Studio Gallery Nova, Coburg North, Vic. 2011. 2010. 2008. 2007. 2006. Gallery at Art Market Budapest, Budapest, Hungary “Under one roof “, Gum Gallery, Brisbane, Qld. Paddington Gallery, Sydney, NSW. “The Sixth sense”, D.E.V.E Gallery, Brisbane, Qld. BSG Gallery, Fitzroy, Vic.