"Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt."
— William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
These words perfectly encapsulate the spirit of Lana Mesic, whose artistic journey thrives on an unrelenting embrace of mischief and curiosity. Through her bold and unconventional creations, Mesic bends and reshapes societal norms, revealing their fluidity and challenging audiences to question the very conventions that structure our everyday lives. For Mesic, art is a playground for rebellion—an open invitation to defy expectations and unlock new ways of perceiving the world. Her work transforms the mundane through trickery, urging viewers to confront both the pleasure and discomfort that come with challenging our realities.
Mesic, a self-described cautious adventurer, is captivated by how we, both individually and collectively, fill in the gaps in what we cannot see. In this retrospective at Contour Gallery, she invites the audience to explore this very concept through works spanning the past 10 years, drawing attention to the invisible forces that shape our perception and understanding of the world around us.
A Mischievous Conversion
Our daily experiences rely on social norms and conventions, providing a framework for stability and predictability. But change is inevitable—and it is this constant flux that Mesic captures in her work. Her pieces highlight the fluidity and uncertainty that underlie even the most familiar aspects of life, exposing them through a playful, experimental spirit that is always a little mischievous. Though unafraid to push boundaries, Mesic's process is rooted in observation, analysis, and collection—her adventurous, yet thoughtful, approach is always tinged with a critical eye.