Being, 200 x 150cm, Carolina Barbarić

The work Being explores the notion of presence and the relationship between a human being and another living being. Their proximity opens up a space of encounter that does not rely on the need for explanation, but rather on the simple act of existence and the possibility of mutual recognition. The other being is not presented as a symbol with a predetermined meaning, but as an independent presence that remains both familiar and unknown.

The pictorial surface develops through the gradual application of translucent layers of paint, allowing earlier marks to remain partially visible. This process prevents the scene from settling into a definitive, unambiguous image, instead allowing it to remain open and fluid. The figure and its surroundings emerge through the interplay of colour, light and atmosphere, as the painting seeks not merely to depict an encounter, but to convey the feeling of its presence.

Being speaks of the desire for closeness and connection, while also acknowledging the impossibility of fully knowing another. What connects us does not always need to be expressed or explained; sometimes, it reveals itself in the quiet fact that we are simply here, in the presence of one another.