Gordana - For You

We journalists are always looking
for a good story and we find
them all the time. This time we
found an interesting person whom we
want to introduce to you and that is
Zoran Zivkovic, the painter who uses oil
paints on canvas and plywood. Besides
that, he also does graphics, sometimes
sculpture, pastels on paper and digital
photography as well.
This time we met in Ugljare, the small
town where the above mentioned painter
lives and works. As soon as we have
seen an interesting yard with the cottage
and few more interesting details, a windmill
made from wood running on wind
and water, we knew right there that this
painter is undoubtedly creative. He told
us his life story that he begin with the
words: "I was born in 1953 in my parents'
house, right there in that house itself, not
in the hospital. That's the reason why I'm
emotionally connected to this yard, as
well as to the each tree that's in it". He
had shown interest for painting since he
was a child and his idol was his older sister
who weaved. Once she was weaving
on the white canvas and she was supposed
to draw some figure on it first. She
asked her brother to help her with drawing,
and he did, of course. "It was done
by the pencil and some spoons and that's
how I begin to create figures, flowers,
butterflies and various things. I have been
given compliments that have encouraged
me to think about drawing and colors".
Mr. Zivkovic was born as a twelfth
child in a poor family, when the life in the
village was not easy. He had elderly parents
who didn't understand his love for
painting and music. He has never had
their support, but that didn't affect him a
lot, since he done art for more than 30
years. Since he was in the primary
school, his teachers were supporting
him because he was the best and at that
period he was exposing his work during
school exhibits. "The paintings,
books, and colors were the only
awards I have been given and it was
these symbolic awards that kept me
going further. When I realized what
one can do with the wonderful colors
and draw the flower that you can feel
his shape and scent, I was positively
surprised so I kept doing what I was
doing the best - painting". The most
important paintings for him are the ones
he is emotionally in relation with, the
paintings of his parents, that are precious
to him and he hopes that, even
when he is gone, the next generations
will take care of them.
His artistic work was awarded many
times, and he had his first individual
exhibit in 2001 in Gracanica, showing the
work he created in years. The fact
that he is trying to teach the youth his
skills shows that he is not limited to
the painting only. "The painting is my
great love and my habit. Besides that
I'm trying to organize cultural activities
for the youth, not as an official but on
voluntary bases. I do that because I
know even today there are young people
who are crying for inspiration and support,
just as I did once".
He helps to those who are gifted for
painting and music. There is a small
workshop in his yard where the youth
gathers sometimes and there some of
them have painted their first landscape
or dull nature. The people in art know no
limits and are looking for the soul-mates
wherever they are and whoever they
might be. This artist recommends to the
youth to do the art, because after them
there will remain works worth to be mentioned
and preserved.
AWARDS
1980. First place on painting colony
"17 watermills" in Donji Dusnik,
Yugoslavian level
1975. "The award for fine arts creativity"
in Smederevo
1977. "The award for fine arts work"
in Pancevo
1978. "The plaque for fine arts work"
in Pristina
1979. The first award of the fine arts
colony in Gadzin Han, Nis.
Culture