Liliana Pasalic creates abstract paintings and wall sculptures using tufted yarn, spray paint, perspex, and LED lights. Through the combination of unconventional materials, Pasalic continually seeks to redefine the boundaries of painting. The rich, tactile texture of tapestry—woven from Australian wool—invites the viewer to engage in a sensory experience, though paradoxically, the viewer is unable to touch the work! The thin, watery layers of spray paint—a visual language of the street—interact with the tufted components, merging and contrasting simultaneously. Here, tapestry is approached as a form of painting, with patches of colour added where needed and two yarn colours mixed to replicate the process in pointillist fashion. The overlapping layers, often found in traditional painting, create frames within frames, much like a collage.
Creativity is at its peak as Pasalic remains in a state of experimentation, embracing a deep, playful flow, while still working within the realms of painting and sculpture. The use of formal elements acts as an invitation for the viewer to come closer, only to be immersed in pure abstraction. The artist does not feel the need to compartmentalise the work into distinct categories but seeks to create pieces that fulfill their intended purpose, using any necessary means.
For Pasalic, responding to the work as it evolves is more important than following a fixed, pre-conceived idea from start to finish.