Toni Meštrović, rođen 1973. u Splitu, multimedijski je umjetnik koji najčešće djeluje u formi video i zvučnih instalacija. Diplomirao je 1999. na Odsjeku za grafiku Akademije likovnih umjetnosti u Zagrebu, gdje se bavio grafikom, skulpturom i instalacijom. Zbog interesa za elektroničke audiovizualne medije 1997. studira Video/Digital Imaging u klasi prof. Valie Export na International Sommerakademie für Bildende Kunst u Salzburgu. Godine 2004. završio je dvogodišnji poslijediplomski studij Medienkunst kod prof. Davida Larchera i prof. Anthonyja Moorea na Kunsthochschule für Medien, Köln, gdje istražuje u videu, zvuku i video/zvučnim instalacijama osobnu percepciju mora i otoka uz koji je odrastao. Povratkom u Hrvatsku 2004. godine nastavlja svoje umjetničko istraživanje u kojem se tematski bavi kulturnim nasljeđem, identitetom i tranzicijskim promjenama na prostoru Dalmacije. Neke su od kontinuiranih preokupacija Meštrovićeva rada asimilacija linearnog i cikličnog vremena, dokidanje naracije na koju smo naviknuli te tema promjene, u širokom rasponu, od bilježenja isparavanja vode u closed circuit videoinstalaciji, do komentara društvenog konteksta. Od 1992. aktivno sudjeluje na skupnim i samostalnim izložbama te videofestivalima u Hrvatskoj i inozemstvu. Dobitnik je više stipendija i nagrada, poput nagrade za mladog umjetnika Hrvatskog društva likovnih umjetnika u Zagrebu 2007. i druge nagrade na izložbi Ova e-mail adresa je zaštićena od spambota. Potrebno je omogućiti JavaScript da je vidite. 2013. godine. Živi i stvara u Rijeci i Kaštelima, a predaje u zvanju redovitog profesora na Odsjeku za film i video Umjetničke akademije Sveučilišta u Splitu.

Toni Meštrović, born in 1973 in Split, is a multimedia artist working predominantly in the form of video and sound installations. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in printmaking in Zagreb from the Academy of Fine Arts, where he was engaged with printmaking, sculpture and installation. Due to his interest in electronic audio-visual media, he studied Video/Digital Imaging with Prof. Valie Export at the International Summer Academy for Contemporary Art in Salzburg in 1997, and completed a two-year postgraduate diploma in Media Art with Prof. David Larcher and Prof. Anthony Moore at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne in 2004, where he explored in video, sound and audio-visual installations his personal perception of the sea, and the island where he grew up. After his return to Croatia in 2004, in his artistic exploration he continues dealing with themes of cultural heritage, identity and the transformations that have occurred in Dalmatia due to the period of transition. Some of his continuous thematic preoccupations are the assimilation of the linear and cyclical time, the exhaustion of a type of narrative that we are used to as well as the theme of change, extensively, ranging from recording evaporation of water in a close circuit video installation, to commenting the social context. Since 1992, he has taken active part in group and solo shows, as well as video festivals both in Croatia and abroad. He has been awarded more scholarships and awards, such as the 2007 Young Artist Award by the Croatian Artist Association in Zagreb and the Second Prize at the Ova e-mail adresa je zaštićena od spambota. Potrebno je omogućiti JavaScript da je vidite. exhibition in 2013. Lives and works in Rijeka and Kaštela, and is a full professor at the Arts Academy, University of Split, Department of Film and Video.

Toni Meštrović

Solidni radov / Solid Works, 2022.

serigrafija, pigment od zemlje / serigraphy, earth pigment

9 x 50 x 70 cm

Zatočen u otočkoj izolaciji u vrijeme COVID-19 lockdowna, u nemogućnosti rada na započetim umjetničkim projektima fokus prebacujem na radne procese u prirodi, na oblikovanje jednog zapuštenog krškog terena. Soft work zamjenjujem hard workom. Proces započet prije četiri godine sporadičnim intervencijama u ovom razdoblju napokon dobiva vrijeme za kontinuirani rad. Rad koji, osim vidljivih fizičkih rezultata, ima i terapeutski karakter ili jednostavno – kako ostati zdrav i normalan. Dok radim, često razmišljam o kasnim radovima Ivana Ladislava Galete iz serije Endart i kako je iz video/filmskog medijskog prostora prešao u poljoprivredno/pejzažni. Ne nazire se kraj, jer kao da sam u nekakvom loopu.

Detained in island isolation at the time of the COVID-19 lockdown, unable to work on the art projects I had started, I shifted my focus to work processes in nature, in shaping a neglected karst terrain. I replace soft work with hard work. The process that started four years ago with sporadic interventions, is finally getting the time for continuous work. Work that, in addition to visible physical results, also has a therapeutic character, or simply how to stay healthy and normal. While working, I often think about the late works of Ivan Ladislav Galeta from the Endart series and how he moved from the video/film media space to the agricultural/landscape one. There is no end in sight, because it's like I'm in some kind of loop.

• iz izjave umjetnika / from the statement of the artist