Svetle

Simon Šubic – Svetle, born in Žiri 19.3.1954. Like many in Žiri at that time, he is a shoemaker by profession.

Like many others, he is also someone who seeks inspiration outside his learned profession, Simon Šubic soon found himself in music. At first, he played trumpet for a local wind band and later founded his own ensemble. As always he strives for something new, more intereresting and that is how he started composing his own music and writing lyrics. As author of lyrics and music he received many awards in festivals all over Slovenia. While playing all over Europe, he felt that it just was not right for him, he then slowly passed on to painting.

Simon Šubic – Svetle with his pictures and drawings becomes widely known in the late 90'. As a 'naïve' in the field of painting he had a lot of interesting things to see in the local area. In the Žiri area there were a lot of representers of the 'naïve', painters who gained respect and praise all over the world for their unique talent and skills. Simon Šubic – Svetle over the years has attended many lectures and classes in the art of painting.

Independent exhibitions:

1989 Žiri 1991 1990 Bled Pristava, Lljubljana filip manor
1991 Postojna Gallery Mlin, Ajdovščina
1992 Brdo pri Kranju, Hotel Kokra Domžale
1993 Nova Gorica, Portorož
1994 Žiri, Budapest, Kranj
1995 Pirmasens Forum Artium, Bled Astoria
1996 Škofja Loka, Domžale, Kranjska gora
1997 Kamnik, Kobarid, Preddvor
1998 Rateče, Nova Gorica, Topolščica
1999 Grosuplje, Bovec, Črna Vas
2000 Bled, Radomlje, Idrija
2001 Ljubljana, Domžale, gozd Martuljek
2002 Spodnja Idrija, Kranjska gora,
2003 Rateče, Stockholm
2004 Dolenjske Toplice, Bovec
2005 Brezovica, Reteče, Idrija

Abstract from the catalogue of Andrej Pavlovec

Everything we want to order, even painting must be named somehow. Simon Šubic – Svetle seeks his inspiration and motives in his vicinity and past ages. With pure commitment and unburdened heart he attempts to transfer his visions and feelings on to the canvas. The first years and paintings can be ordered under »rural amateurism« but that is just a general mark. In the paintings of Simon Šubic – Svetle almost everything looked like some sort of legend that is being painted by the 'naïve'.

Something about how he thinks, how he paints his visions.

When in the everyday rhythm, as one goes along you percept your four year old son, who with a crayon is recreating the story he heard last night. The crayon flows relaxed and in the same time, he absorbed in his work silently repeats the story in his own words. The finished painting is a unburdened story transferred on to a piece of paper.
And when it seems that I sit in my workshop fruitlessly waiting for a creative idea that just does not want to come, only then it hit me how simple and plain it can be if you set your mind on how it was to be a child. At once every surrounding thing in the area or the mind becomes an inspiration for a painting or drawing. At that time my imagination gets wings and I am ready for creative flight. The result is usually a work that I am proud of and I can hardly wait for the next day I get that so needed child-like feeling.

De gustibus non est dispuntandum. [Tastes are not to be argued]