10 Questions with Boran Hrelja

Boran Hrelja is born in Slovenia and lives and works in Canada. Educated in Europe, holding a degree in architecture, he collected professional and cultural experiences from England, Italy, Central Africa, the Middle East, and Japan. His passion for quality and his quest for excellence lead him to international recognition of design excellence in Japan (Shinkenchiku Design Award) and Europe (Council of Europe). His talent for artwork, design, sketching, and photography enables him to communicate his sophisticated design ideas and intentions to coworkers, clients, and contractors. His work focused on projects using the holistic and environmental approach.

Professionally he explores media to support architecture, but eventually, interest in art becomes work per se. Interest in photography has resulted in some exhibitions and awards. Lately, he has developed a profound interest in digital art, exploring the future of architecture from an art perspective. His abstract artwork is recognized, awarded, published, and exhibited.

@hreljab

ARTIST STATEMENT

Fascinated by the vastness of objective and subjective reality, Boran is mesmerized by human curiosity to comprehend the future. Using advanced digital tools, he is experimenting with art, searching in architecture for new elements to unlock creative possibilities in the relationship between humans and the environment. One possible way of improvement is learning from models, systems, and elements perfected by nature over millions of years of evolution.
Biomimetics or Biomimicry is the science of applying nature-inspired designs in human engineering and invention to solve human problems and live in harmony with the environment. The future will be defined by advanced science, where the merge between organic and inorganic forms can be manipulated at the DNE level. The new composite materials and new organic forms might be created as part of the living architecture cycle. The artist is experimenting with making art in the form of screens, patterns, structures and objects, exploring the limits of our capacity to understand the existing complexity of our world and vision of the creating future with more harmony with nature.

What is shaping our consciences and our relationship with the world

A Human’s inner mental framework is composed of our natural traits, acquired knowledge and experience of the world around us. This combination of physical, cultural and social conditions is responsible for our personality and relationship with the world.

EXPLORING ART IN FUTURE ARCHITECTURE

Architecture represents our human civilization achievement and is a fine example of a refined understanding of technological, social and cultural progress. This man-made built environment strongly influences our relationship with the world.

Boran is exploring the future artistic form of architecture and architectural elements (in the form of a living organism) in the fusion with nature in digital format using advanced computing systems.

Creating a glimpse of the future world

Display of different artistic forms of architectural innovations can give us a glimpse/sense of view of potentially living in a different world where the other human experiences of cultural, social and environmental can shape our conscience. Viewing this new art forms can trigger our inner aye and stimulate us to imagine and experience the new ourselves in the possible future. It is about exploring possibilities to imagine, see and experience ourselves and the world from a new perspective.

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you, and how did you start experimenting with art and design?

I was born in Slovenia, which is at the crossroad between the dazzling Mediterranean and rational Germanized culture. This influence cultivated my education and my professional path toward rationality and creativity. The field of architecture was an ideal form for me to explore both. Finding the right balance between functionality and artistic expression was a challenge for each project.

You studied and worked as an architect. What inspired you to pursue an art career?

In making architecture, the main artistic idea can be compromised in a lengthy process with many restrictions. Creating art is a much freer process, where the artist can control narratives and directions.

What are your influences and source of inspiration?

The biggest influence on my work is from the incomprehensible world of nature—the unbelievable reality of everything, including our complex existence.

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? How do you start and work on a new project?

Existing and living is a process of creating our relationship with the world around us. We can say that we are creators of our own personalized “reality,” which we perceive by our senses and feel through our emotions. When I sense high emotions, I try to capture the cause and translate it into the language of art. First, I write and sketch ideas, then transfer them to the computer and start experimentation. It can take time to find the right form, composition, and colors.

What are, in your opinion, the key aspects of a good project, whether in design, art, or architecture?

Besides achieving perfect functionality (architecture, design), the essence of any project is providing a strong sense of a positive emotional experience. The critical aspect of good creation is the profound, inspiring impact on the visitors, user, or observer.

You work with abstract compositions. What themes and messages do you want to convey?

Abstract work is like a very sophisticated language. We can better describe our feelings, emotions, and thoughts with shapes, composition, colours, and shades. The things we see differ from what we see with our inner eye. I like to take the observer on a different journey through reality, where the usual meaning of things can surprisingly change.

And what about the colors you use? Do they have any specific meaning or reason?

I use colors intuitively, which relates to the moment I start creation. They can change in the process related to emotions at any particular moment. There are no strict rules on how I can use them.

What do you think about the art community and market?

Community and market as well are important for everyone. It is like an extension of family and helps us live better. A strong identity is essential because we can feel stronger and more secure. The well-being of a community is a crucial element for healthy individuals, and we have to contribute to that in any practical, creative way, physically, socially, and spiritually.

Do you have any projects or exhibitions you are looking forward to this year?

I am working to extend my exploration of future art/architecture into details like urban composition, extension in inhabitable areas, and integration with different environments, materials, and patterns. This new material will be integrated into my existing exploration to form an article to be published.

And finally, where do you see yourself and your art five years from now?

My architecture research will be more detailed and elaborated with practical projects to elaborate on new possibilities.