This year marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of the academic painter Vangel Kodzoman. The tribute paid to the artist represents a reunion of his works with the audience, which, after a long period of time, are being exhibited again to remind us of a bygone era captured by the skilled hand of the painter.
Kodzoman belongs to the first generation of academically educated artists, alongside Dimitar Pandilov, Lazar Ličenoski, and Nikola Martinoski, and slightly later, Vasilije Popović-Cico, Dimo Todorovski, Tomo Vladimirski, and Ljubomir Belogaski, who are considered the founders of Macedonian modern art. It is important to recall the enormous efforts these artists invested in modernizing Macedonian artistic and cultural life, which took place under difficult economic and socio-political conditions. They created at a time when art was not so accessible to the wider public, during a period marked by wars, poverty, and insecurity. The works of these artists serve as a kind of testimony to those past times, reminders of the changes that took place, and which the artists experienced in their own deep, emotional, and individual way.
It is difficult to distinguish specific phases in the work of Vangel Kodzoman. Broadly, his work can be divided into two time periods: before the Second World War until 1950, and from the 1950s to the 1980s. The first period is marked by academic realism in his works, as well as the post-impressionist influence of the Belgrade art school, while the second period is characterized by his already formed personal coloristic expressionism, with elements of Fauvist painting.
What stands out the most in Kodzoman’s work is his contribution to the treatment of various themes. He diligently notes, draws, and paints his interest in everything around him using his painting skills. It seems there is no topic he does not explore or at least attempt to capture on paper or canvas. Oil, pastel, and watercolor are the techniques he uses in works covering themes such as nudes, portraits, landscapes, still lifes, old town architecture, social issues, and historical content. However, he is most recognized for his landscapes and portraits, where he creates his greatest and most significant works.
Vangel Kodzoman’s artistic oeuvre is vast. This is primarily due to his belief that art should be among the people, that it belongs to everyone and should not be a privilege for anyone. From this belief, he draws his perseverance, discipline, and dedication to his work. The treatment of all techniques in which he expresses himself holds equal importance and value for him, as do the themes he explores throughout his creative life, marking him as a particularly prolific artist, recognizable and remembered as a painter in the Macedonian region.
Until the end of his life (1994), he remained diligently, responsibly, and with great love devoted to his craft: art and painting. Vangel Kodzoman’s role as one of the founders of Macedonian modern art will remain recorded and highly valued in the history of Macedonian art.
The curator of the exhibition is Aleksandra Zinovski Vilic, and it will be on display from November 19 to December 20, 2024.
