Elvis Berton was born in 1970 in Pazin, Croatia where he still lives and works. He embarked on his arts journey in 1996, and four years later he started exhibiting his work on a large scale. Berton’s art has been shown on more than 100 group exhibitions at home and abroad, and he also had 37 solo exhibitions. Numerous Croatian art critics and art historians have written about his work and he has won many awards and professional recognitions.
How did you get into art?
I am a self-taught artist and my artistic path was unpredictable. Until I was 25, I wasn't interested in art at all. I discovered my artistic talent quite by accident. Back then I couldn't even imagine that one day I would become a professional artist, recognized by the profession. I just listened my inner voice and followed my dreams.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
Over the years my artistic expression has changed from art brut to a hard edge, geometric art and post vandalism. But I still try to keep the child’s expression and infantility in painting, at least in a small part. Lately I like to combine different styles. I also make sculptures and installations. I like to use the same motif in different media.
How do you go about developing your work?
I usually have a clear vision of what I want to paint, but sometimes it happens that I simply pick up the canvas and start painting without a specific idea in which direction I will go. I rarely do sketches. Because of the many details and layers, the work on each painting takes from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the canvas.
Who or what influences you?
I am deeply connected with nature and it has been my great inspiration all these years. But lately I've been working on several different series of paintings that are inspired by various things. One is abstract, it’s titled „Omnibus“ because it consists of several parts that are different but together form a whole. This series of paintings is inspired by geometry, patterns, and street art. The other series is titled „Hands“, it’s about interpersonal relationships, feelings, and the inner world. „Modern Life“ is a series of paintings inspired by technology, social media, emoticons and other forms of communication, life on the Internet... I find inspiration both within myself and in everything that surrounds me. For me, art is not just a job, it’s my life.
Make us curious. What are you planning to do next?
I am looking forward to the upcoming solo exhibition in Vinkovci. It's a town on the other side of the country where I've never been before. In the city park I will exhibit the art installation 'Seven Years Of Hunger“, and I will also create a site-specific exhibition in a red telephone box that was shipped from London and converted into the smallest gallery in Europe.
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