The first joint exhibition of three Macedonian visual and multimedia artists united in the Art Group "Three" is titled "Why not now...?" and will open on February 17, at 19 p.m., at the MKC in Skopje.

The newly founded art group "Three" consists of three eminent and established Macedonian visual and multimedia artists, MA Strahil M. Petrovski, PhD Laze Tripkov and MA Angel Korunovski, who, with their diversity and visual approach to their work, decided to unite and work together on the Macedonian art scene as a group of authors.

The project “Why Not Now…?” is an evocative exploration of contrasts, media and the artistic potential of monochrome. At the heart of artistic expression lies the interplay of contrasts, where differences shape the narrative of a shared vision. “Chromatic Contrasts: Shadows, Absence and Reflection” brings together three Macedonian artists, whose works explore monochrome, black and the dimensions of abstraction.

This triad of media, styles, and perspectives come together to illuminate the profound ways in which absence and presence can shape our perception of reality. In their unique approaches to black as a dominant force, these artists ask a compelling question: why wait to engage with the profound possibilities of the present moment?

Strahil M. Petrovski: "The shadows... / The light..."

Strahil M. Petrovski, through his light-dark compositions-formations composed in a large spatial installation, captures the fleeting beauty of urban shadows in twenty works (paintings and objects, in the period from 2016 to 2025) made in a combined technique, on canvas, felt, wood and (non)painting materials. Each painting/object, individually or in a group, reveals the unprecedented choreography of Baroque-Renaissance light and darkness in everyday physical and mental spaces and forms, their shadows, architectural and abstract and at times informalist and calligraphic lines, spots, strokes, forms / (non)forms… divided by sunlight, ephemeral forms of movement, staticity or freezing of certain moments.

Petrovski's works invite us to confront the ephemeral nature and perceive the world around us from a different perspective. The question: "Why not now...?" resonates in his paintings, objects and installations and "forces" us to see what we might otherwise overlook and miss at certain moments of our existence.

Angel Korunovski: "The Black Abyss"

Angel Korunovski's monochromatic black paintings delve into the void as a place of possibility and depth. His works are minimalist yet rich, each canvas revealing subtle textures, gradations of tone, and a quiet intensity that is deeply meditative.

Korunovski's art challenges viewers to confront the question "Why not now…?" as an invitation to pause, to linger, and to engage in the emotional weight of the present. In his black, there is no emptiness, but an infinite landscape of contemplation.

Laze Tripkov: "Reflections in Geometry"

Laze Tripkov’s ten geometric illustrations provide a sharp counterpoint to Petrovski’s organic forms and Korunovski’s textural explorations. With precision and symmetry, his works transform lines and shapes into reflections of balance and order. Yet Tripkov’s designs are not static – they vibrate with an energy that speaks to the urgency of the present. His compositions are a visual reminder that structure and spontaneity can coexist, and that “Why not now…?” is a call to embrace harmony in both thought and action.

– Black, as a unifying element, becomes the cornerstone of this exhibition – a common language through which each artist communicates different ideas. For Petrovski, black represents shadows in motion; for Korunovski it is the depth of introspection; for Tripkov it is a canvas for precision and clarity. Together, their works challenge the notion of black as absence, transforming it into a rich spectrum of emotion, texture and form.

The title “Why not now…?” resonates throughout the exhibition as both a question and a challenge. Why not engage with the ephemeral shadows of our cities? Why not embrace the emotional depth of introspection? Why not contemplate the structure and beauty of the world around us? These works encourage us to seize the moment and discover the profound in the present.

“Why Not Now…?” is not just an exhibition; it is an experience – a dynamic encounter with three perspectives of time, presence and perception. It invites us to move beyond observation, to become participants in the ongoing dialogue between the ephemeral and the permanent, the abstract and the tangible – explains Dr. Laze Tripkov.

(The text was published in "Cultural Press" number 268, in the printed edition of the newspaper "Sloboden Pechat" on 15-16.2.2025)