Simonida Perica Uth

Simonida Perica Uth comes from a long line of artists, graduating with a BA from the School for Industrial Design, Graphic Department at the University of Fine Arts in Belgrade and an MA in Byzantine Monumental Art. After moving to the US she designed and executed large events including the Annual Bastille Day Celebrations at the French Embassy in D.C. She was a mosaic artist at St. Sophia Cathedral, Washington, DC., serving as the last apprentice to the Master Mosaicist Dimitry Dukas. For two years she worked at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC, transferring bibliographical data on Byzantine studies to microfiche, a Harvard-Oxford collaboration. In 2007, Simonida was exhibit designer and curator at The Historical Society of Washington D.C. for the exhibit “Wages of War: Bonus Army to Baghdad.” Simonida lectured at Goucher College on Jungian psychology and symbolism in art and for the last two decades, has spent much of her time as art director and executive producer of documentaries shown on PBS.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I adore comparing architecture to the construction of the human body; they both live and give us a glimpse into the secret of what time truly is. The changes to the form, how it morphs and develops, and yet there is an exotic memory of the past like visiting an ancient temple.

These pieces aimed to connect opposites like old and new. Glorious elements of the biblical past with modern mix media like copper leaf, Chinese ink, and oil pastel. A combination to give spark to our flight of imagination.

At one of my exhibits, I had the honor of receiving a written impression from Mr. Reitman, a Belgian critic, who wrote, “A powerful work, in which the character of the explosion is expressed in a deeply humane way. Yet, a tradition which is different from ours, was not forgotten.”

For me, the art is a journey into our sub-consciousness. Although we long for peace and harmony, we inevitably face torments in our life journey. Art faces both aspects and helps us understand ourselves, while reflecting on our time and society. The purpose of art is to talk to us and guide us to our inner emotions. In the end, it is like looking into a mirror.

Art