"Emerging new artists 2018"

Art size: 80inch x 46inch

Tupac Shakur † 4:03 pm / Sept 13, 1996 | The Notorious B.I.G. † 1:15 am / March 9, 1997

Growing up with a Bosnian family in the late 70’s and early 80’s, I became fascinated by human achievement. Amidst all the alcohol and drug abuse, corruptions, violence and my family dying at war, the idea that anybody could rise above these negative forces and reach greatness was incredible to me. Public figures especially captured my imagination. My father worshipped John Lennon. I, in turn, worshipped Biggie and Tupac. They were gods, gorging themselves on celebrity and success in spite of the evil forces stacked against them. If they could escape then one day, so could I.

But here’s the catch about making it to the top. The more you achieve, the more famous you get, the bigger the target you become. This life you lead, this mythology you’ve built, it can’t protect you from the wrong bullet.

Except for certain extraordinary people, it turns out death is not the end. That bullet merely opens up another portal. Your death and the way it happens are a stepping stone to a new kind of fame that lasts forever.

Immortal is my way of investigating the kind of fame that never dies. John Lennon, Biggie, Tupac, Ghandi, JFK, Malcom X, Martin Luther King, Che Guevara – they’re all here as I remember them, posed halfway between living and dying.

A Bosnian kid’s war-torn obsession with human achievement violently collided with historical events to ask a single question. What happens when your life becomes too important to die?

I want Art to be accessible and appealing for people from all walks of life not only for those who are well kept, experts, critics, or collectors. Working for over a decade as a creative in advertising helped me shape ideas into the simplest, purest form. This allows people to understand what they see in front of them. Which is very important to me. I want people to feel and understand what they see. You can hate it, or you can love it. As long as you get it, I’m happy.

While Art is subjective, I want Immortal to be something people can judge and something that everyone collectively can understand regardless of the aesthetic. My goal is to connect people with each-other and societies issues that take our best from us. I hope to contribute to a platform and make everyone a part of the beautiful community that is art.

// Alan Vladusic

IMMORTAL SCULPTURE

I'm taking my Sculpture to the streets of America. Art against Guns is a socially and culturally driven art project that speaks to the ongoing gun crisis in America. Art against Guns format allows you to interact with the work in an emotionally jarring fashion. The goal is to connect people and the societal issues that negatively impact us, and inspire a call to action through art. When politics fail, let creativity become the vehicle for change.

It works very simple. Open your phone camera, scan the code, watch the clip and be a part of the movement by sharing #artagainstguns

All the proceeds will be donated to an organization that is dedicated to support individuals affected by gun violence in America.

PS: This is a 911 emergency call from a boy who accidentally shot and killed his 8-Year-Old sister.

Sculpture size: 45 inch x 10 inch

John F. Kennedy † 12:30pm / Nov 22, 1963

Che Guevara† 1:10pm / Oct 9, 1967

MATERIALS:

Mixed Media - Pencil on Paper and Layered Acrylic sheets and laser cut techniques.

It is difficult to see the effect and depth of the art piece in just a photo. The Art has a 3D effect. The art piece becomes more visible when you stand further away and move around.

Alan Vladusic: An origin story.

No artist ever gets anywhere in a straight line and the same can be said for me.

I’m originally from Bosnia but raised in Germany. It was not what you'd call an idyllic childhood. Growing up as an immigrant kid with an alcoholic father on the outskirts of Frankfurt, I was exposed to its seedier side: substance abuse, corruption and violence. Additionally, I had a severe speech disorder which made me shy around other kids. I barely spoke to anyone for many years for fear of being bullied and laughed at. I had so much bottled up inside me but no way to express myself. I felt lost.

So I left.

At 15, I was on my own and ready to put my life in my own hands. By 17, I had dropped out of school and worked odd jobs like a locksmith and house painter. I had also gotten involved in a few illegal activities to make money for rent. Quickly, I realized I couldn't keep going down this road and went back to finish school.

At 19, all my friends were going on to University but I knew another 5 years in a classroom didn't suit me. So I did what any 19-year-old kid would do when he didn't know what to do next:

I went out to a club.

There, I met a woman at coat check and told her my story. At the end of the night, she handed me a business card. She was an executive at an advertising agency. At that time I had no clue what that is. Later that week I called and received a one-year internship. For the first time in my life, I had found something I truly loved to do. Communicating visually got me hooked. I was inspired, finally able to express myself in a way I never knew existed. I put everything I had into this new career, obsessed with the idea that I could actually make a living doing this.

The shy immigrant kid who had trouble expressing himself had finally found a way to speak.

All these years later, I have been lucky enough to travel the world working as an Arist & Creative Director. I have even lived and worked for some of the best advertising agencies on four different continents.

Today, I am the Co Founder and Creative Director of three different brands.

// Alan Vladusic