FESTIVAL POSTER STUDENT EXHIBITION – UNIVERSITY OF ARTS IN BELGRADE – FACULTY OF APPLIED ARTS

Opening: 18th September at 9.30 a.m. 

Foundation for Youth Culture "Danilo Kiš"

Touch by sight

The 14th exhibition of posters made by students of Belgrade Faculty of Applied Arts as part of the International Children's Theater Festival Subotica

It is not a language that "speaks", but a language that "does", that creates

Umberto Eco

Observing the posters created for this year's festival, it’s fairly easy to determine that students have successfully mastered the principles of drawing, composition and mood, along with a vast thematic pool of period-styles and national tradition. However, a surprising element emerged in the form of texture. Two out of three award-winning posters, employ the use of a, usually neglected, artistic element - texture.

Thus, it’s worth pointing out some previously known facts about texture. The word originates from the Latin word textura meaning to weave, fabric, assembly, composition. As an artistic element, it’s a part that speaks most directly about the very nature of the material, its structure and character. While surface and line describe the appearance of an object, texture speaks about its composition, form and surface. Texture is never an isolated element - it’s always a part of the artwork as a whole. In it, it complements other elements in order to better depict the object and reinforce its material nature and presence.

Texture can have both symbolic and semantic meaning which are manifested through rhythmic, valerian, coloristic and contrast value. Texture is unique among artistic elements because it evokes two sensory processes: sight and touch - it can be seen and felt. Carefully and meticulously "spilled" to the surface of the poster, the texture will extend the viewing time and captivate the viewer’s gaze. Therefore the texture of a poster becomes a testimony to structure as a message, ultimately instructing the viewer to halt the debate on poster application and pay attention to what the poster itself is saying.

ZdravkoMićanović