Savica
Savica was the name of Boris’ grandmother, pronounced Sa-vit-sa. Savica was a very strong woman, a woman of noble character. Boris recalls a time when a neighbor was harassing her. She was calm, cool and collected and did not seek revenge. She turned to Boris and said “Aren’t you glad you’re not like her.” That quote has remained with Boris all these years. It reminds him to never let others get the best of him. Savica endured many hardships in life but they did not harden her. She was a loving and kind woman. But she was also firm in her character and integrity, a woman of courage.
Savica
(1998) 65x40 inches, Acrylic on Canvas with brown ornate wood frame
A woman of strength and wisdom, who rises above every challenge. She sits in a place of space and time within life itself.
Better Half
Marriage is not for the faint in heart. It is only in the passage of time and experience that we understand the marriage vows: “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
Boris has been in a long recovery process since open heart surgery and recovering from sepsis. Life has not been the same since. Our marriage has not been the same since. When he came home from the hospital, he was not able to do much for himself physically and he needed my help. It was a difficult time for both of us but we joined together, as a team, and plowed forward.
About 7 months after returning home from the hospital, he painted “Better Half”. In this painting, one can see the man and woman joined as one. That is Boris’ view of marriage. Two people unified in love and devotion.
Better Half
(2019) 20”x16" acrylic on canvas
My wife never left my side while I battled my illnesses.
Welcome To America
Leaving one’s homeland and emigrating to another country is never an easy decision. Boris left all that was familiar, in Montenegro, for a journey into the unknown. He had a desire for adventure and to see the world. But his love for Montenegro never diminished. Boris compares becoming a U.S. citizen to being adopted but never forgetting your birth parents. He describes it like having two mothers, one birthed him and nurtured him and the other adopted him and took care of him. He says “I love them both.”
This painting, Welcome To America, expresses Boris’ emotions and journey as an immigrant to America.
Welcome To America - Living The Dream
(2023) 48”x36” mixed media on canvas
Scream for Freedom
On September 17, 2022 protests broke out in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini. According to reports, she was arrested by the Iranian morality police on September 13th, due to improperly wearing her hijab. According to her family, she was severely beaten and died as a result of her injuries. There was immediate outrage, not only in Iran, but around the globe. Protesters in Iran have been arrested, detained and some have even been executed. Women took to social media to show their solidarity with the hashtag #mahsaamini. ‘“Mahsa Amini is now a global symbol for freedom, not just in Iran,” says Nina Ansary, a historian and women’s rights activist. (Forbes December 6, 2022)’
Boris also felt the outrage of this horrific event. A beautiful young woman’s life was taken. He channeled this outrage in his painting Scream for Freedom. Women are screaming for freedom, not only in Iran, but in many other countries, where they are treated like property instead of human beings. Boris is often inspired to paint women in different facets, like a beautiful gem. This painting depicts a woman using her voice to declare her right to be safe and free from harm. Women are life givers, in more ways than one. They endure much pain, while bringing life and beauty into the world.
Scream for Freedom
(2022) 36”x48” mixed media on canvas
Serendipity or Divine Intervention
After Boris’ open heart surgery, he experienced a lot of physical pain and fatigue. The sepsis complicated his recovery. He was not able to do the normal everyday tasks as he did in the past before the illness. It was difficult for him to find the strength to do anything, especially paint. He was sinking into a dark hole. I had a spontaneous idea of getting out of the four walls of our home and going down to Miami for two days and exploring the art scene to get some inspiration. We went to different galleries and were told to go to Little Haiti if we wanted to see art. We drove down NE 59th St. and saw the gallery of J. Steven Manolis. We didn’t know who he was at the time. From the street we saw large paintings with beautiful bright colors. We knocked on the door and he graciously welcomed us in to look at his art. It was exactly what we needed, like a breath of fresh air. The brightness of the colors were so uplifting. Steven shared some of his story and journey as an artist. It was inspiring and encouraging to Boris. That day, October 4, 2019, was a turning point for Boris. His creativity began to flourish and painting became like therapy. I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe that we were meant to be there that day and meet Steven. His small act of kindness made a huge impact on Boris’ art journey.
Photo: Preparation for Miami: Pastel Paradise (2023)
R to L: J. Steven Manolis, Boris Vujovich, Bruce Helander
Frida
One day Boris and I were discussing the life of artist Frida Kahlo. She had been through so much adversity and heart break in her life. Despite all the hardships, she managed to express her artist gift. While bed ridden, after an almost fatal bus accident, she painted and created beautiful artwork. She was not afraid to be transparent and painted her inner experiences. Boris was inspired by her resiliency but he could also relate to her pain. In spite of the emotional and physical pain she was feeling, Frida often adorned her hair with colorful flowers and wore ornate jewelry. Boris painted his view of Frida, with her beautiful adornments on her head and the sorrow in her eyes.
Frida - My Story
(2021) 67”x56.5”, acrylic on canvas, w/frame 74”x63”
Art is Healing
Art is an amazing vehicle for healing and wellbeing. Art can convey thoughts and emotions that cannot be expressed in words. Boris’ art is his expression of thoughts and emotions about the world around him and his own personal state of being. The war in Bosnia between 1992-1995 was really upsetting to him. He did not take any sides. His concern was about the human suffering that was taking place. The pain of a mother losing her son in war is the same regardless of what side they are on. He was so overwhelmed with this truth that he painted “Mother Crying - War”. It was his way of pouring out the wide range of emotions that were building up inside.
Mother Crying - War
(1992) Acrylic on Canvas Panel, painted with hands, 36”x24”
Good Days and Bad Days
In February 2019, Boris was in the fight of his life. He had gotten an infection in November 2018 from a medical procedure and the infection became life threatening. The infection went to his heart and he needed open heart surgery to replace two heart valves. It was a traumatic experience for both of us. After surgery, it was hard for Boris to see the light at the end of the tunnel because he was in excruciating pain. One of the nurses said something that remains with him to this day. She said “you’re going to have good days and bad days.” She went on to tell him that it will get better with time and he will recover. This resonated with his own personal philosophy of life. He just needed to hear it from someone else in the moment.
Life is Tough
(2022) 20”x16” mixed media on canvas