VISUAL AND SPIRITUAL VISITS TO CHILANDAR

There are many good reasons that justify the existence
of fine art meetings in Chilandar Its rich history and the special values it possess have always caused
the interest of individuals. It was the target of conquerors that plundered and devastated it. It was visited by aristocrats, kings,czars as well as other well-known and not so well-known people,people with elevated thoughts who looked for peace,some kind of tranquility and they found it there.
The rich gave Chilandar invaluable presents.
Travel writers visited it. It was inspiration for poets who wrote the most beautiful poems about Chilandar.

Participants in third Art Colony.

Although Chilandar was burnt, destroyed and rebuilt, and that way changed, it preserved its irresistible attraction and original beauty. In spite of all misfortunes that happened to Chilandar (even recently) it is still a challenge to many artists. Its importance and appearance attracted their attention and fired their imagination. Maybe because it is not easy to describe it with words or forms. In its spiritual constant it stays unreachable so it is understandable that it is very hard to make a complete connection between Chilandar and the artist trying to describe or paint it, almost like that cosmic one that El Greco made with Toledo or Njegos with Lovcen.
Immediately upon its foundation, it was painted and written about. First it was in engravings of many well-known and anonymous masters. Some time later ,it found its place in the paintings of respected painters. Chilandar was, and it still is the inspiration for many painters.
Thanks to the ideological founder of the art colony that
we are talking about,the well-known monastery became the meeting place for the painters who went there in organized groups. This colony gathered confirmed and respected artists. Some of them have already entered
the history of Serbian fine art.

Cross of Czar Dusan and artists.

In the works made during the latest meeting (2004) we can see different approaches to the subject. The artists found inspiration in dilapidated buildings,damaged or abandoned, with details probably unnoticed by an ordinary observer but unavoidable for an artist. Of course, there
are works based on a different regard to the motive. It is determined by free approach, sometimes modified to the extent of bare resemblance to the object painted, which denies the challenge to identify the art work with the real image. The artists that took part in this colony belong to different generations. It resulted with different styles
and poetic expressions that those artists cherish.

In order to “revive” the spirit and the looks of Chilandar,
to make it closer to our knowledge,the sponsor of the project wanted to turn our painters to Chilandar which will inspire them to create new art works. They will continue turning it into the magic harmony of form,light and colours.The message that this project is sending is
turning back to our roots and tradition and the art works will remind us of special and elevated existence of
Chilandar. This way it will enrich our culture and orthodox inheritance.