Over the coming months, Otaki Museum is hosting a series of exhibitions by local artists. The first of the featured artists is the late Dragan Stojanovic. The exhibition - a family affair - will include works by his sons, Stevan and Alex, and his daughter-in-law, Federica Gatti.
Throughout the 1960s, Dragan worked in commercial art while continuing to paint at home. In 1965 and 1966 he was commissioned to carve polystyrene figures of an animal orchestra, Old King Cole and Cinderella’s Golden Coach for Kirkaldie and Stains Christmas displays.
In 1970, the Stojanovics moved to Yugoslavia where they stayed for three years. After returning to live in Wellington, Dragan joined the Academy of Fine Arts as an artist member and began to work full-time as a painter from 1975. He exhibited around New Zealand and won several awards, including the Williams and BP Art Awards. The BP Art Award theme was called ‘On the Move’. The family laughed because the winning painting flew off the trailer on the way to the exhibition – truly on the move!
In 1985, then aged 60, Dragon designed and built a house on a large section in Otaki. He died in June 1999, leaving behind an enduring legacy and an abundant work.
The Dragan Stojanovic Exhibition will be followed by Te Whakanikoniko: artworks by Te Wānanga o Raukawa students and tutors. The final exhibition in the series will feature paintings by local landscape painter, Ernest Papps.
