Clashes and Contraries

Mentioning words as charcoal and olive trees we get the images of something dark, gloomy, old and wrinkled, of something heavy, hard, painstaking and sullen. Those terms dont belong to the world of young people anyhow, at least not to the most of them. When the young artist takes on charcoal and motif of olive tree we surely have to ask ourself - why? What has inspired him to enter such world of visual expression? Experience, nostalgia, nurture, rebellion, inner turmoil, perhaps clash with reality, sense of fairness, belief in a better world - or all of this together? The young artist Ivan Radman has drawn in all of that into his images. Moreover, he has taken in all his inner world into those, from a first glimpse, one would say simple images - drawings.

Charcoal, no matter how black, dark, gloomy looked like and no matter how hard, painful and poor life it represented, or no matter how dirty and sad it might sound - in the had of Ivan Radman it becomes completely another world. Softness and gentleness of lines, lightness and purity of surfaces are painters message that cheerful side of life exists there as well. And it is not all so dark, sad and gloomy as it may look in life. Let's find out, let's try a bit, lets believe - there is another nicer world, no matter how it may look at this moment. As much as it sounds unusual, using that "dark" technique our young artist undoubtedly shines with optimism, hope, aspiration, belief and love.

Olive tree, as much as it old and wrinkled is, and as much as it reminds us of poor soil and climate it grows in, it is a symbol of longevity, toughness and persistence. Radman has not chosen it as his motif accidentally. It doesn't evoke inner nostalgic, remembrance of tradition or worm home only. Through it's ostensible solitude olive tree represents to him wish to be self-contained and urge for individuality and independence. Don't we all seek for the same? By it's long life it symbolizes might and eternal youth as well as wisdom. It's contraries - poor land and bounty of fruit - is not just mere symbolism, but aspiration of our everyday life and survivor. As much as olive tree looks alone, old and wrinkled, on Radman's drawings it is all other - but not this mere first truth.

Olive tree, as much as it old and wrinkled is, and as much as it reminds us of poor soil and climate it grows in, it is a symbol of longevity, toughness and persistence. Radman has not chosen it as his motif accidentally. It doesn't evoke inner nostalgic, remembrance of tradition or worm home only. Through it's ostensible solitude olive tree represents to him wish to be self-contained and urge for individuality and independence. Don't we all seek for the same? By it's long life it symbolizes might and eternal youth as well as wisdom. It's contraries - poor land and bounty of fruit - is not just mere symbolism, but aspiration of our everyday life and survivor. As much as olive tree looks alone, old and wrinkled, on Radman's drawings it is all other - but not this mere first truth.

Clashing the contraries author has shown us his revolting inner world, his clash with reality, his experience of life and his feeling of justice in hope for better and nicer tomorrow.

Professor Pavao Jerolimov
"Zadarski klub"
Zagreb, 2004.