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Meeting art masters, coffee shop drinkers at Coquitlam exhibit

Two artists offer windows into the past and present with exhibits that open this week at Coquitlam’s Place des Arts.
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Child of the Light.

Two artists offer windows into the past and present with exhibits that open this week at Coquitlam’s Place des Arts.

Croatian native Nino Dobrosavljevic will show Time with Past, a collection of 38 oil on canvas pieces inspired by the works of such art masters as Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Picasso and Dali.

“I wanted a connection to the time back then but in a very conversational style,” the Surrey resident told The Tri-City News last Friday.

A self-taught artist who immigrated to Canada 20 years ago, Dobrosavljevic has been fascinated with art history since he was a child; he read about famous pieces and their creators in books and often visited museums, art galleries and European churches, he said.

Still, Dobrosavljevic likes to twist his renditions by creating illusions — that is, tricking the eye with multiple angles of the subject.

Meanwhile, Victoria artist Peter Kohut also presents an unusual punch to his coffee shop subjects.

Over the past couple of years, the graphic artist drew customers as they ordered their java and sat down to talk with others or got to work.

Kohut picked up on their quirks and “weird expressions” then translated his images into paintings for a series called Inside/Outward.

Also a self-taught artist, Kohut said he observed rather than voyeured. “There’s no judgement,” he said. “They’re in a public place and it’s not like it’s something secret that they’re doing.”

After his display closes Nov. 5, Inside/Outward will travel to Leigh Square Community Arts Centre in Port Coquitlam for another showing starting in December.

• The opening reception for both exhibits at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) is Friday, Oct. 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free.