I wish, I wish...the knowledge and feelings which will save the world

The works by Daliborka Djuric are stories, prayers and wishes of their own kind, and the artist expresses them through techniques of quilt and embroidery – she sews in and connects smaller pieces to create a larger form to which she adds the material in layers (the cotton middle and the reverse side), and she stitches all of them into the final textile unity.

Initiated by the handmade/art works of Aminah Robinson, Faith Ringgold i Harriet Powers, which are known for the richness of texture and colour, the exhibited handmade quilts are inspired by the tradition of nurturing the primitive art and past. The embroidery is as old as the fabric itself, and the technique of the embroidery (with which women told their stories) is universal and it connects the whole world because it could be found in other civilizations.

In addition to evoking the folk/ naïve art with their form and style, the works by Daliborka Djuric are, in composition and theme, based on the works of cinematography, like the films by Woody Allen. In his films, Woody Allen asks questions to strangers, he comments on their responses in a funny way, he uses segmented frames, animated sequences, flashbacks (as well as flashbacks inside flashbacks), scenes in which body/soul duplicate... As a critique of modern society, Woody Allen’s comedies are analytical in showing the problems of conteporary human relationships with special retrospect to the communication between men and women who are in love or who are left.

By transmitting her thoughts, the artist embroiders stories, trying to, in an artistic manner, emphasise the beauty, handmade irregularities, which is in contrast with today’s generally accepted digitally standardized phenomena. Embroidery and quilts symbolically signify meditative states of body and spirit, since they require the patience of a manual process (which has its duration), as well as sensuality which is expressed through movement, touch and material. There is a tapestry in a museum on the Lady of the Rocks Island, in which, beside silver and golden threads, are the hairs of a woman intertwined – a woman who made it. While waiting, praying and wishing for her husband to return, she worked on it for 25 years.

Dedicated to the hope of seeing our loved one again, this embroidery, as well as some of the films by Woody Allen, speak about the interrupted love between two people and the impossibility of them continuing it. There are no wedding bells tolling, there is no happy ending – that is what a cross-stitch gives to the mentioned embroidery and films. What went wrong? Why did the romance end? There are no answers to these questions. There is only a touching story.

The accelerated pace of life, which follows the revolution of technical innovations, makes love take on a short and perishable form of existence. The partner does not necessarily have to be replaced by a new person, they can be replaced by a new technological invention – it is obvious that we are as emotionally attached to some hi-tech inventions as we are to our loved ones.

That way, the prayers, which once lasted for hours, days, months, years, are now embroidered into art works which became short-lived desires, which are even faster replaced by the new ones. What do modern people want? What do most people pray for? Somebody wants a 3D printer, somebody wants a Bernina 580... We have become addicted to technical innovations, wanting to own the newest digital gadgets.

However, the desire-prayer can be directed to different values. In her works Hello! Let Me Introduce You to My Anime and Pippi Longstocking, asking herself what a modern woman’s aspirations are, the artist, Daliborka Djuric conteplates the value of modern life of a woman. One thing is certain, women are miles away from Pippi, a small and fragile little girl, but, on the other hand, strong and fearless. Although, as little girls, we dreamt to be like Pippi, it is time to ask ourselves what we have become by growing up.

Have we, perhaps, become housewives who buy overpriced cook books by Oliver, Jamie Oliver, the most famous chef, who promotes organic and healthy food through the TV screen? While we think about what organic food is and how people used it in the past, we forget that eating is a ceremony, which, with healthy, organic foods (naturally produced in a garden), makes a family gather round and share them at the table. Diet is not just about looking after the health and the number of calories – it is about the food of love which we share with our loved ones.

The phenomenon of modern age paradoxically spoiling and improving our dieting is a characteristic of the modern life and it is difficult to avoid the imposed values and new social criteria. See You in the Park is one of the examples of our fear of being banished from the society if we do not spend more time in virtual, rather then natural reality.

Alluding to the values we once knew, according to which we once lived and respected, but forgot along the way, is present in Annie Holl Forever, inspired by the film Annie Holl by Woody Allen. Made in 1977, this romantic comedy, significant not only because the fact that it won four Oscars (including the one for the best picture), but also because it marked the end of the golden age of the American cinema, after which came the age of blockbusters.

Created as a dramatisation of the author’s romance, this film is an autobiographical representation of the relationship between the character Alvy Singer, played by Woody Allen, and a young singer Annie Hall, played by Diane Keaton. Even though it is a film, Diane Keaton actually played herself (she wore her own clothes) and during the filming, she was involved with Woody Allen. That way, the film represents the reality dedicated to times which have passed, when Diane Keaton and Woody Allen were an item. Although complementary different, both (film) characters are irresistibly funny, unusual and comic.

While Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) is, a cynical pessimist obsessed with death, which we learn from his monologue at the beginning of the film: ‘There is an old joke – Two elderly women meet at a restaurant on Catskill Mountains… And one of them says: ‘The food is awful here.’ And the other responds: ‘Yes, I know. And the portions are so small.’ This paints the essence of how I see life… full of loneliness and pain and suffering and misery…and all ends too fast…’, Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) is a complete opposite – cheerful and free in spirit, who, at the end of the film, celebrates love, singing about the past when it happened: ‘It is like the good old days, you are next to me, walking together…and I still feel excitement, just to hold you in my arms… I still feel excitement , that was the day I met you…it is like the good old days…here, with you…’

By reviving the forgotten values fo the past, with a needle and a thread, Daliborka Djuric creates her art work with dedication – the quilts do not offer criticism of the observer, but want to remind and warn the public, like Paul Gauguin’s Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we gonig?

Therefore, The Knowledge Will Save the World... represents the artist’s utopian idea... a sparkle of her hope... faith.. in the knowledge and feelings which will save the human kind from selfdistruction...

mr Olivera Erić