Biography

Born in Zagreb in 1942 and bearing a title of the Master of Science, electrical engineering.

Željko Plavčić stared painting in 1993, being encouraged by the academic painter Ico Polovic.

His most often technique is aquarelle and sometimes he resorts to oil.

He gained the basics of the aquarelle from Mr. Polovic and later on from the academic painter, E. R. Tanay.

He attended artistic courses at the Arts Centre in Zagreb.

He lived in USA between 1994 and 1996 learning more about painting and using a huge library within that field.

In 1995 he participated at the General American Competition, ART 95.

All his works were exhibited at the Gallery 89 in New York.

He regularly takes part in the humanitarian and donation actions.

Visual Art comment: Kristina Skerlev, prof.

“They say that the knowledge gained by experience is of a mechanical nature, and that the knowledge born and ended in a spirit is a scientific one, and that the knowledge born in the science and ended in hands' work is a semi-mechanic one. But it seems to me that barren and permeated by mistakes are those scientific fields conceived by experience, the mother of all shapes of safety…”

(Leonardo da Vinci, Exposé on painting)

After less than a year I have before me a new series produced by Željko Plavčić. I still have before my eyes fluttering and fluid landscapes, subtle scenes of frozen small backwater. I remember well interesting landscapes that provoke glances by their contradictory realistic and impressionistic expression.” I remembered that Plavčić likes water, both as a motif and as a technique. When looking at his new works I notice continuity, and more than that  the preoccupation with the motif has grown into a finely rounded series of paintings with one single topic: the sea and the ships. This development of the interest is a logical one and it is related to previous Plavčić's work. Plavčić has already demonstrated his impressionistic inclinations that have fallen on fertile grounds as far as the motif of water is concerned. Plavčić is delighted with and absorbed in his studies of the play created by the light and shadow at the swaying water surface. Endlessly different play of the sea waves started by a wind, their rise towards the sky (or “diving” of the sky into the sea depth) create a painter's world within which he moves seeking to reconciliate the need to bring out a detail and the need to create an impression. Even if the scenes of the restless endless waters seem to be impressionistic, the ships painted by Plavčić's hand become a scientific work created by someone who understands technical fields, a shipbuilder, even it is just a hobby. The details he brings to our attention is fascinating and they reveal the author's inclination towards a realistic approach to which the author opens up with the same passion he considers the artistic impression of a troubled open sea.

The color scale, in line with the motif, has remained similar to Plavčić's previous works, except that in the new series we can notice a more luxurious layer of the aquarelle pigment which results in a special esthetic solutions in the treatment of the water and the sky. Plavčić, it seems, has defined his expressive style: Coordinated and controlled aquarelle and detail narration serve to create effective landcape scenes.

In line with the words written by Leonardo da Vinci from the beginning of this comment I would say that the author is a sort of a homo universalis who steps out in his artistic expression from the amateur into truly artistic field by reconciliating his scientific and his artistic side

Independent exhibitions:

1996. Knjižnica u Sloboštini, Zagreb

1996. Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Zagreb

2000. Knjižnica u Sloboštini, Zagreb

2001. Knjižnica Bogdan Ogrizović, Zagreb

2001. SRC Jelenovac, Zagreb

2001. Knjižnica Prečko, Zagreb

2002. Marina Biograd

2004. SRC Jelenovac, Zagreb

2004. Knjižnica August Cesarec, Zagreb

2005. Caffe A.G. Matoš, Zagreb

2007. Library Bogdan Ogrizović, Zagreb

Collective exhibitions:

1996. Čakovec

1996. Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Zagreb

1996. Galerija “Dubravka”, Zagreb

1997. Krapinske toplice

1997. Galerija “Dobri dol”, Zagreb

1997. “Globus”, Zagrebački Velesajam

1997. Galerija “Dubravka”, Zagreb

1997. Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Zagreb

1998. Starogradska vjećnica, Zagreb

1999. Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Zagreb

2000. Hotel “Kolovare”, Zadar

2000. Društvo “Hrvatska  žena“, Zagreb

2006. Gallery Chromos, Zagreb

2007. Library Kustošija, Zagreb

2008. Old Town Hall, Zagreb

E-mail: zeljko.plavcic@zg.t-com.hr

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