Nikola Milanov “Monologue of Emotions”
April 21. – May 10. 2026
Salon 77
Nikola Milanov’s solo exhibition, titled “Monologue of Emotions”, features a series of paintings and drawings that the artist began during his undergraduate studies and further expanded during his Master’s studies t the Faculty of Arts in Niš. Intrigued by the question of human emotions and the impact of the environment on their origin and transformation, the artist begins his research by studying personality psychology and re-examining his own being. In a series of portraits and self-portraits, implemented in oil on canvas and mixed media drawing, the artist has turned the emotions of his subjects into various physical expressions to bring us closer to the manner the individuals project their feelings onto the world around them. Fleeting
emotions are immortalized through gestures and distorted facial expressions; thus, expressions of surprise, helplessness, astonishment, and pain, as well as psychological and physical torture, are visible on the depicted faces.
Environmental influences, which are fundamental to creating these reactions, are depicted through red threads attached to the subjects’ eyes and mouths. These threads pull at the features in specific directions, suggesting an invisible force that shapes and controls their expressions. In some instances, the tension is stretched to its limit, prompting the subjects to furrow their brows or tilt their heads in an effort to resist these external pressures. In a number of works, the artist explores the theme of complete constraint, where thicker red lines appear to press firmly against the skin. This completely deprives them of movement, which is why their main means of expression become their eyes and mouth.
Throughout his works, the young artist illustrates how facial expressions serve as a mirror of the individuals′ internal state and the profound impact that society and the environment exert upon them.
Asst. Prof. Andrijana Golac-Čubrilo, PhD