Solo exhibition
Likovni salon Kočevje (SI)
6. 12. 2024 – 22. 2. 2025
Curator: Nadja Kovačič
In Kočevje, Tina Konec presents a new series of works dedicated to cypresses and, above all, to the memory of her grandmother, who planted trees around the house as a way to preserve memories for future generations. Cypresses, with their elegant, upright growth and longevity, carry profound meanings that have resonated with humanity for millennia. They have become symbols of spirituality, inner strength, reverence, peace, and remembrance of those who have passed. The idea of surrounding a home with the shelter of evergreen trees translates to surrounding it with the shelter of memories. Trees thus become bearers of stories, family events, and emotions. Her work and efforts are imbued with the belief that trees are the heart of the domestic environment – not merely as decorative or functional elements, but primarily as guardians of memories.
In her latest works, Tina Konec employs techniques of overlapping and layering photography and drawing. Tracing paper, which allows the underlying layers of photographic images to shine through its translucent surface, creates subtle transitions. The interplay between drawing and photography establishes both a visual and conceptual dialogue. By confronting two mediums—two images from different time periods—she creates symbolic meaning on multiple levels. On one hand, photography serves as a memory and an association with reality; on the other hand, drawing offers a subjective, personal interpretation of the same memory. The viewer is invited to reflect on the interplay between objectivity and subjectivity, as well as the external and internal. The layering fosters a dialogue between past and present, raising questions about personal identity, personal history, and personal memories.
Nadja Kovačič