Featuring Mara Vučak’s Art Exhibition from Sat 23rd – Mon 25th Nov

Croatian-born Australian artist Marija Mara Veronica Vučak in her most recent studies
investigates the use of Artificial Intelligence technology and the accelerated pace at which it
continues to develop. Some of her current studies have been inspired by painters such as
Jeffery Smart, Nives Kavuric-Kurtović and Giorgio de Chirico. Vučak’s current practice-based
research project is aimed at creating a new series of paintings challenging the artist’s personal
anxieties surrounding AI technology with the artist examining how AI may be impacting our
thinking.

Mara seeks to understand the effects of AI on our ability to think for ourselves and asks if
painting can help us to remember how to think? Reflecting on The Question Concerning
Technology (1954), and Being and Time (1927), written by controversial philosopher Martin
Heidegger, Vučak’s interest in the author’s works were sparked by a desire to comprehend
the meaning behind the terms ‘the essence of technology,’ the ‘standing reserve’ and
Heidegger’s ideas on ‘forgetting how to think’.

Visual arts practices continue to challenge and change our ways of thinking, seeing and being.
This exhibition provides the viewer with a look into the evolution of Vučak’s creative process
with the survey demonstrating how her creative practice draws on aspects of memory, the
body, identity, society, religion, culture, globalisation, the environment, technology and
institutional and political critique.

“A Study in Art” is a retrospective survey of selected paintings, drawings, prints, photographs,
digital media jewellery and small objects created over four decades of learning. Mara’s
earlier works feature Western influences including metaphysical elements and surrealist
notions that continue to appear in many of her paintings today. Combining Eastern as well as
Indigenous influences in her creative practice play a pivotal role in the artist’s ability to
grasp new and thought-provoking concepts.

Whilst studying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts one of Vučak’s images from the triptych Enigma a
work in progress at the time, was chosen to be exhibited at the Queensland College of Art
Southbank campus during her final year. The completed series features miens of our vast
Australian landscape abutting with European architectural visages and a scattering of
ghostly forms.

Learning about jewellery and small objectsthe artist has created a series ofsilver pieces titled
Tattoo, the designs relate to identity and mark making practices observed by women from
various parts of Croatia where Mara was born and lived as a child. A wearable art piece titled
Lyrebird refers to migrating and growing up in Australia and the artist’s connectedness to this
place. These pieces were selected and shown internationally at the 2019 Why Jewellery?
exhibition held in conjunction with the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University and the
Hong Kong Baptist University.

Vučak’s long standing view of the Earth as a whole living organism sees the artist depicting
the Earth with all the continents being visible on a globular form simultaneously. Tipping Point
is a series of wearable art pieces commenting on climate change and the effects our consumer
choices are having on both seen and unseen places. The interchangeable parts feature planet
Earth with some parts representing a recognisable blue planet form and others as a
deteriorating, corroded and degraded form. The objects have been created using recycled
silver, copper, aluminium and titanium. Various methods have been used to create these
pieces including, enamelling, etching, engraving, soldering and casting.

When & Where?

Mara Vučak’s solo survey will be held upstairs at the Australian Croatian Club located at
68 McCaughey Street Turner ACT. The exhibition will be open for a limited time from Saturday
the 23rd of November to Monday the 25th of November 2024 and can be seen daily from
11.00am – 4.00pm.