Denis Butorac
www.denisbutorac.com

Denis Butorac rođen je 1992. Diplomirao je na Katedri za Fotografiju pri Akademiji dramske umjetnosti u Zagrebu. Osim Dekanove i dviju Rektorovih nagrada, dobitnik je novčane potpore i nagrade Marina Viculin koja se dodjeljuje kao priznanje za rad umjetnika s izvanrednim postignućima u području hrvatske fotografije. U rujnu 2018. godine predstavio se prvom samostalnom izložbom Homesick, u sklopu 10. izdanja međunarodnog festivala fotografije Organ Vida. Izlago je na nekoliko samostalnih i grupnih izložbi u Hrvatskoj i inozemstvu. U svom umjetničkom radu, fotografiju koristi kao medij kojim najčešće istražuje teme poput identiteta, obitelji i tradicije, čime gradi vlastite narativne serije u kojima spaja dokumentarni i konceptualni rad.

Denis Butorac was born in 1992, Croatia. He obtained a master's degree in Photography at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. Apart from two Rector's and Dean’s award, he also received the Marina Viculin Award, a monetary prize given as recognition to Croatian artists for their outstanding achievement in the field of photography. In September 2018 he presented his first solo exhibition Homesick, as part of the 10th edition of Organ Vida International Photography Festival. His photographs were exhibited in several group and solo exhibitions in Croatia and abroad. In his artwork, photography is used as a medium for exploration of topics such as identity, family and tradition, thus building his own narrative series in which he combines documentary and conceptual.

Denis Butorac
Homesick, 2018., digitalna fotografija, digitalni ispis na arhivskom Hahnemühle Photo Rag papiru, 8 x 100 x 70 cm
Homesick, 2018, digital photography, digital print on archival Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper, 8 x 100 x 70 cm

Odrastao sam u Slavoniji, u sredini u kojoj su uzgoj i ubijanje životinja u prehrambene svrhe višestoljetna tradicija. Samim time, ne samo da je prihvatljivo, već je i očekivano da djeca od najranije dobi budu uključena u cjelokupni proces kako bi se stečene vještine iznova prenijele na nove naraštaje. Budući da sam odmalena odbijao sudjelovanje, često sam nailazio na nerazumijevanje i uvrede. Revoltiran uvriježenim mnijenjem kako sposobnost da se ubije životinja može biti protumačena i kao potvrda muškosti, nastojim prevladati strah i gađenje te u ulozi pasivnog promatrača prvi put nakon dugo vremena prisustvujem činu klanja. Svjedočim toj nametnutoj dužnosti, istovremeno i društvenom događanju u kojem domaćin i pomagači potrebu za međusobnim dokazivanjem temelje na poricanju emocija. Poput kakve inicijacije, aranžiram posljedice tog rituala muškosti kako bih konzervirao neugodne uspomene i kreirao nove, ali ujedno uspostavio i novi model povezivanja s obitelji i sredinom u kojoj sam odrastao.
(iz umjetnikove izjave)

I grew up in Slavonia, in an environment where raising and killing animals for food is a centuries-old tradition. Therefore, not only is it acceptable, but children are expected to be involved in the whole process from an early age in order to pass on the obtained skills to younger generations. From my early childhood I refused to participate and was therefore exposed to a lack of understanding and insults. As I am revolted by a popular belief that the ability to kill animals can be interpreted as a confirmation of masculinity, I strive to overcome fear and disgust, and as a passive observer for the first time in a long time I attend the act of slaughter. I witness this imposed duty, at the same time a social event in which the host and helpers base their need for proving oneself on the denial of emotions. Like any initiation, I arrange the consequences of this ritual of masulinity in order to preserve unpleasant memories and create new ones, but at the same time establish a new model of connecting with my family and the social environment in which I grew up.
(from the artist's statement)