In her distinctive Abstract Expressionist style, Dusanka Kralj’s paintings transcend pictorial representation to convey the intangible and transient. These canvases embody psychological and philosophical concepts, states of being and ideals of matter. The physical nature of Kralj’s work directly echoes this process – the works are complex, layered entities that develop over many months – they are built up, deconstructed, re-layered. This cyclical building process lends the paintings their complexity, subtlety and depth. Kralj’s layered surfaces throw up shocks of intense color that hover on the canvas’ surface, suffused with contained energy, their edges muted as if behind mist. Each work has a quality of light that makes it seem as if the surface of the canvas is illuminated from within. The purity and clarity of the paintings allows them to express something elemental, not only in subject matter but also in the materials themselves. Here is an artist working in her element.
Dusanka Kralj currently lives and works in Crescent City, California.