works - Nastja Dolinšek Utroša

“Untitled”, 30x40 cm, acrylic on canvas, 2023

Dreams, 36x30 cm, digital illustration, 2024

This was my first solo exhibition, titled Net, at the DobraVaga Gallery. In a series of scratchboards, I was questioned the concept of the herd instinct, the different behaviors of people in a group, and their unconscious entanglement within numerous social structures. The inspiration for the dark works in smaller sizes, created on laminated canvas, originates in my parallel exploration of the behavioral traits of certain fish species. A specific biological phenomenon, called shoaling or schooling, characterizes fish that stay in a group for hydrodynamic and, above all, social reasons. It is not just an ordinary school, but a complex, incredibly synchronous structure of fish, which, with the help of such a group, are more successful in defending themselves against predators, find food and partners faster, and successfully save energy due to their harmonious movement.

They glide side-by-side at a precise physical distance and with high responsiveness; if one fish changes the direction of swimming, the others follow it synchronously. At this point, I discovered parallels with human society, as people as social beings also move in different groups, where we often follow the impulses and behavior of other individuals. Because we tend to imitate those we value or who are valued by others, we quickly become part of a system where a sense of free decision-making and thinking is no longer self-evident. Precisely because of our closeness and connection, we can fall into the trap even faster together, just like a compact school of fish gets caught in a net despite its ingenuity and harmony.