In KIC - Skopje from October 22 to November 4 the exhibition "Waterscapes: Impressions of Travels and Cultures", which contains watercolors by Simonida Filipova Kitanovska and Ari de Goes, reveals two exceptional artistic worlds.

The joint exhibition of Simonida Filipova Kitanovska and Ari de Goesch is a fusion of many years of experience and dedication to art of two artists, presented in the form of a unique dialogue between their refined techniques and emotional expressions. The watercolor technique is the means by which these visual artists, and tireless travelers, capture the fluidity and constant transformation of the landscapes they encounter and the influences of the cultures they absorb in each place on their travels.

Known for her technical sensibility, Simonidas uses energetic strokes and a vibrant color palette to create abstract forms that resonate as impressions of her cultural trajectory. Masterfully applied watercolor allows her compositions to burst with depth and dynamism, while the transparency between the layers creates a play of light and shadow that challenges the viewer to look beneath the surface. Her extensive experience as a visual artist is evident in the rich detail of the forms and her ability to translate with perfect precision the chaos and energy of the urban and natural landscapes that inspired her.

On the other hand, Ari de Goes focuses on the simplicity of landscapes in the form of elegant semi-abstractions, where refined technique is fundamental to achieve the desired lightness and tranquility. His precise use of water-based techniques, combined with the simplification of forms, ennobles the landscapes with a contemplative character, allowing the viewer to immerse himself in the serenity of his compositions. Through transparency and subtle contrasts, Ari transforms ordinary scenes into profound visual reflections.

Technically, the exhibition "Waterscapes" reveals a unique harmony between the gestural expressiveness of Simonides and the contemplative lightness of Ari de Goes. Simonida Filipova Kitanovska reveals the way to their joint presentation.

How did it happen that you had a joint exhibition with Ari de Goes, where did you meet and how did he find himself in Skopje?

- Ari visited me in Skopje last year. He got the idea to make a joint exhibition. The idea was excellent and the result is visible in the exhibition hall of KIC in Skopje. We met at a watercolor festival in Santa Cruz, Portugal in 2018. The following year, at his invitation, I was in Brazil for the first time. Two years later he invited me again to exhibit and hold workshops in several cities in that great and beautiful country.

Both of you use the watercolor technique to realize the exhibited works. Why that technique?

– Ari has always been a watercolorist. I have been working on this technique more intensively for the past ten years. Previously, I expressed myself in other techniques (oil, acrylic, collage, video, installation and performance). One day I decided to return to watercolor. This technique contains features that are not characteristic of other media. It does not allow repairs, the creative act is fast, because the paint dries quickly, its intuitiveness and expressiveness are innate and especially pronounced.

Floral motifs are noticeable in your works, while landscapes are represented in Goes. Where do the inspirations come from?

– The topic is completely random. But the concept of the exhibition was to contain works inspired or created on our many travels around the world. There's no better way to experience the colors and aromas of India than a trip to that magical land, you'll feel like you've never seen a beach until you visit the Atlantic coast of Brazil… and sometimes inspiration is in the backyard.

You are often present at watercolor colonies and festivals. What are the specifics of the watercolor technique?

– The carrier of the color is the pigment. The oil technique involves mixing the pigment with oil. The watercolor technique uses water instead of oil. Works painted with oil technique take days to dry, watercolor dries in just one or a few minutes. The oil technique allows the application of layers of paint and precise corrections. In watercolor there are only precise strokes and there is no possibility of correction.

At watercolor festivals around the world, I rarely meet artists who are not exclusively watercolorists. Often, I am the only one who works in other techniques as well. The formal academic education of watercolorists is often a year or even two longer due to the fact that the successful adoption of this technique requires a particular commitment.

At the exhibition in KIC-Skopje there are also your works painted on handmade paper. What process is it about?

– Handmade paper is a millennial tradition. From the ancient Egyptian papyrus and the calligraphy of the ancient Chinese civilization, to Gutenberg in Europe, the method of production has not changed much. The quality is of a higher rank compared to the modern mechanized process and the specific epithets of the final product are far more diverse. Of course, this implies a much higher price of the final product, but also of the works made on this type of paper.

What is your next "water" destination?

- For now, the first is the world's largest gathering and festival of watercolorists in Fabriano, Italy. Fabriano is one of the oldest European papermaking centers. Participation in festivals, exhibitions and workshops in Brazil and Peru will follow.

(The interview was published in "Cultural Press" number 254, in the printed edition of the newspaper "Sloboden Pechat" on 2-3.11.2024)