Speed 2009

Dragan Ilić Di Vogo’s painting, called "Speed", seems to explode from the canvas in a burst of colour and layered images. You can almost feel the artist Di Vogo diving headfirst into the act of painting, each brushstroke building upon the last. I imagine Di Vogo surrounded by images torn from magazines, photos, sketches, all swirling around in his mind, then materializing on the canvas. The texture is smooth, as if the images are dissolving into the air. See how he’s woven together the faces, figures, car, and checkered flag in the right hand corner, creating a dreamlike space where everything feels both familiar and just out of reach? The colours are vibrant, yet muted, like memories struggling to surface. This painting reminds me of the kind of figurative work that was being made in the 80s. Artists like David Salle and Julian Schnabel were mashing up images to create a sense of fragmented experience. Di Vogo’s conversation, like the rest of us, continues, inspired by what has come before, searching for new ways to express the chaos and beauty of life.