Prometheus is bringing fire to mankind, statue, Rockefeller Center, NYC
Wise words of wisdom from Greek mythology:
‘For when the gods truly wish to destroy a man they first make him angry. From a position of anger he can be swayed towards all things.
He can be made to act dishonorably for the sake of honor.
He can be made to destroy when making would better serve his purpose.
He can be made to break his bow upon the rocks, to reign in too much, to go too far, to wade in without care, or to retreat in disgust when victory is but there feet forward.
Through anger, a man can be made to forget himself.
Thus, when you come upon the anger know it as a monster sent forth by the gods not to wound but to kill.
Do what is most appropriate. Cut off it’s head and shove it aside’.
Almost all the sculptures Boran Ilic makes represent the human body in strong, passionate motion. Every tendon and every muscle is under tension. That’s partially because he sculpts figures of people in flight, musicians, athletes and mythical creatures that hypnotize with their beauty and grace, but it’s mostly because of the material with which they’re made — steel spoons.
Because of that material and the way in which he uses it for art, Boban Ilic is one of the most famous and appreciated sculptors in America. His sculptures are displayed in museums and galleries across all America, which is a dream for many artists, and almost everyone, even people who are not interested in art, know about his work.
‘Crazy Horse’ – strong movement, passion, energy…
But it wasn’t like that from the beginning. Boban Ilic graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade and came for a short time to America on November 6, 1991. He had previously been invited by engineering professor David Greenwood to the Grand Rapids exhibition at the University of Michigan. That helped him leave Serbia in the 1990s. “I thought that the potential conflicts would end in dialogue, but instead of dialogue a war began,” Boban Ilic said. And that’s how he stayed in American, even though he hadn’t planned to. Still, he didn’t give up his dreams. “I told them if I can’t live off my art in America, then I can do it in Belgrade because that’s my job, that’s what I have been studying all my life and I wouldn’t know what better to do than that,” Boban Ilic said.
Work in progress – Boban Ilic in his studio in Chicago
He worked a lot, was committed and persistent, and slowly started to use steel spoons as his main material for sculptures. “That’s when the galleries started to react, and that’s when everything changed,” Boban Ilic said. “The knowledge I got from the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade was very important to me because that shows that I didn’t go on this adventure accidentally, but willingly and with a goal, but the change happened here, in America. With the use of spoons, I developed movement in the steel, a very hard material that is difficult to use. I must figure out how to use this material, which is the toughest way of affirming my artistic stance, which means that my stance is solid. But as the spectator in the theater only sees the play and not the rehearsals, the work that was put in, the same principle applies to me. The spectator only sees the floating figure, the flying man, something easy and light, and not the hard system and methods,” Boban Ilic said.
The sculpture of Fenix
When asked how he experienced America, how he adapted during those days in the past, and what it meant for him coming to a new environment, he said: “This is a powerful country, and that’s clear to you from the start, from the moment you travel to your apartment from the airport. Still, the most important thing is that it doesn’t matter where you came from if you have potential. In that case, there are no brakes or hurdles. This is a country where you can rise from the lowest class to the highest and become, for example, Henry Kissinger. If you have the potential you can rise to the top. That happened to me in a way. For me there were no boundaries, nor did anyone ask or remind me where I came from, and that’s why I never felt like an immigrant. Besides, there is no other choice. When you come here, there is no longer a mom, dad, uncle who can help you — there is no one,” Boban Ilic continued.
A closer look at Boban’s sculptures
Out of many figures that he made so far, the most important to him is the sculpture of Icarus, the mythical flyer from Greek mythology. According to legend, Daedalus and Icarus, father and son, wished to fly, so they made wings and bound them with wax, but Icarus flew too close to the Sun, and the warmth of the Sun melted the wax, and he, with destroyed wings, fell in the sea. “Of course we know that the mythology isn’t real and that Daedalus and Icarus never existed, but in that story, there is a great idea of flying. I never saw Icarus as someone who lost his battle, whose wings are melting and who is falling, but as someone who harbors a great idea in himself about great things and who is ahead of everyone else in his time. That’s the idea of a man flying, and that idea brought us here to the present day with everything that it offers. Icarus is our predecessor and the predecessor of all flying objects If I could compare him with someone, I would compare him with Tesla, who, like Icarus, was ahead of his time,” Boban Ilic said.
Boban Ilic beside Icarus – his favorite sculpture
Boban Ilic’s Biography
Boban Ilic, an American sculptor from Serbia, was born in 1963 in the Serbian town Nis. He graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts, department of sculpting, in Belgrade and after that went to Chicago. His sculptures can be seen as parts of exhibitions in the Toyamura Museum in Sapporo, Japan; the Museum of Contemporary Art in Hot Springs, Arkansas; the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas; the Great River Road Museum of Contemporary Art in Potosi, Wisconsin; and Second Floor Art & Entertainment in Indianapolis. His public sculptures are also well known, like the Shaka Zulu in Oak Park, Illinois; the Renaissance Man in the Lincoln Park in Chicago; and Lioness and her cub in Cummings Park in Chicago and in the Belgrade zoo. He has made over 30 solo exhibitions and many more exhibitions throughout the world with other artists.
Skoro sve skulpture Bobana Ilića, izradjene čeličnih kašika, predstavljaju ljudsko telo u snažnom pokretu u kome je napregnuta svaka tetiva i svaki mišić. To su figure letača, muzičara, sportista i mitskih bića koje hipnotišu svojom lepotom i gracioznošću, a ponajviše materijalom od koga su napravljene. Baš zbog tog materijala – čeličnih kašika i načina na koji ih koristi u svojoj umetnosti, Boban Ilić je jedan je od najcenjnijih i najpoznatijih umetnika u Americi. Njegove skulpture nalaze se u američkim muzejima i galerijama što je san mnogih umetnika, a za njegova dela znaju skoro svi, čak i oni koje umetnost uopšte ne interesuje.
A nije tako bilo od početka. Boban Ilić diplomirao je na Akademiji primenjenih umetnosti u Beogradu i na kratko došao u Ameriku 6. novembra 1991. godine gotovo pre 25 godina. Bio je u ovoj zemlji i ranije, imao je, na poziv profesora Dejvida Grinvuda (David Greenwood) izložbu u Grand Rapidsu na University of Michigan. To mu je pomoglo da izadje iz zemlje 90-ih kada je počeo rat. ‘Mislio sam da će se potencijalni sukobi kod nas završiti dijalogom, medjutim, umesto dijaloga počeo je rat,’ kaže on. Boban je tako neplanski ostao u Americi, a kada je poznanicima rekao da će se u novoj zemlji baviti umetnošću rekli su mu da od toga nema ništa. Ipak, nije odustajao.
Figura ‘Trubača’
‘Kazao sam im da ako ne mogu da od umetnosti živim u Americi, onda mogu u Beogradu jer to je moj posao, za to sam učio školu i ne znam šta bih drugo radio bolje od toga’. Radio je mnogo, bio posvećen, uporan i polako počeo da koristi čelične kašike kao glavni materijal za skulpture. ‘Tada su galerije počele da reaguju i tada se dogodio preokret’, kaže on. ‘Za mene je bilo veoma važno znanje koje sam stekao na Akademiji primenjenih umetnosti u Beogradu jer to pokazuje da u ovu avanturu nisam ušao slučajno, već svesno i sa namerom, ali preokret se dogodio ovde, u Americi. Sa upotrebom kašika, razvijao sam pokret u čeliku, ozbiljnom i teškom materijalu koga je veoma teško obradjivati. Ja moram da se izborim sa ovim materijalom koji je najtvrdji oblik potvrdjivanja umetničkog stava što znači da je moj stav tvrd. Ali, kao kada gledalac u pozorištu vidi samo predstavu, a ne probe i onaj uloženi rad, tako i kod mene posmatrač vidi samo lebdeću figuru, letećeg čoveka, nesto lako i lagano, a ne onaj rad, težak sistem i postupak,’ objasnjava Boban Ilić.
MOCA The Museum of Contemporary Art, Hot Springs
Na pitanje kako je doživeo Ameriku, kako se tih davnih dana adaptirao i šta je za njega značio dolazak u novu sredinu, Boban Ilić kaže: ‘Ovo je moćna zemlja i to vam postaje jasno odmah, još dok od aerodroma putujete u svoj stan. Ipak ono najvažnije jeste da ovde nema veze odakle si došao ako imaš potencijal. U tom slučaju nema kočnica i prepreka. Ovo je zemlja gde od najnižeg staleža možeš da dodješ do najvišeg i da budeš , recimo, Henri Kisindžer. Ako imaš potencijal ovde možes da stigneš do vrha. To se na neki način desilo meni. Za mene nisu postojale granice, niti je ikada iko uzimao u obzir moje poreklo ili me podsećao na njega i zato se nikada nisam osećao kao imigrant. Uostalom, nema drugog izbora. Kada dodjete ovde nema više mame, tate, ujaka, strica da vam pomaže, nema nikoga’.
Od mnoštva figura koje je do sada napravio, Boban Ilić najvise je vezan za skulpturu Ikara – mitskog letača iz grčke mitologije. Prema legendi u želji da lete Dedal i Ikar, otac i sin, napravili su krila i povezali ih voskom, ali se Ikar suviš e približio suncu čija je toplota istopila vosak i on je, sa raspadnutim krilima, potonuo u more. ‘Naravno da svi znamo da mitologija nije realna i da Ikar i Dedal nikada nisu postojali, ali u toj priči postoji velika ideja letenja. Ja nikada nisam doživljavao Ikara kao nekoga ko gubi bitku, kome se tope krila i ko pada, već kao nekoga ko nosi u sebi veliku ideju o velikim stvarima i ko je ispred svih drugih. To je ideja da čovek poleti, a ta ideja nas je dovela do današnjice. Ikar je naša preteča i preteča svih letećih objekata. Ako bih mogao da ga uporedim sa nekim uporedio bih ga sa Teslom koji je, isto kao i Ikar, bio daleko ispred svog vremena,’ kaže Boban Ilić.
Čelista
Biografija Bobana Ilića
Boban Ilić, srpsko-američki vajar, rodjen je 1963. u Niš u. Fakultet primenjenih umetnosti, odsek vajarstvo, završ io je u Beogradu, nakon čega je otišao u Chicago. Njegove skulpture se mogu videti kao deo stalne postavke u muzejima Toyamura, Sapporo; Museum of Contemporary Art, Hot Springs, Arcansas; Museum of Biblical Art, Dallas, Texas; Great River Road Museum of Contemporary Art, Potosi, Wisconsin; Second Floor Art & Entertainment, Indianapolis… Poznate su i njegove skulpture na javnim mestima poput Shaka Zulu u Oak Park, Chicago; Renaissance man u Lincoln Park, Chicago; Lavica i mladunče u Cumings Park, Chicago, u beogradskom zoološkom vrtu i mnoge druge.
Iza sebe ima više od 30 samostalnih i još više grupnih izložbi širom sveta.
There’s nothing like a bold piece of jewelry. You can wear it to make yourself more beautiful, to make your day, to make a statement, to refresh your memories of someone or something or just to enjoy.
Traveling in Arizona, somewhere in the middle of the desert, a passenger can suddenly see an unreal, dreamy vision: Among countless cactuses, wide plains covered with a dust and sparse grass, two high white domes rises to the sky.
Beautiful San Xavier del Bac Mission
That is the beautiful Mission San Xavier del Bac, a church also known as the “White Dove of the Desert.” It is Arizona’s secret jewel, a historic Spanish Catholic church located about 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Tucson on the Tohono O’odham San Xavier Indian Reservation.
The path to the church San Xavier del Bac Mission
The Mission was founded in 1692 by Padre Eusebio Kino in the center of a centuries-old Indian settlement of the Tohono O’odham (formerly known as Papago), located along the banks of the Santa Cruz River.
Cactuses – typical vegetation of Arizona
The church was named by St. Francis Xavier, a Christian missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) in Europe. It is the oldest European structure in Arizona.
The regular service in San Xavier del Bac Mission had just begun
As soon as they enter the church, the first painting that welcome visitors is the paiting of ‘Last supper’
Its architecture is as spectacular inside as outside. Its interior is filled with icons and vivid, even dramatic statues of saints.
A main door at the entrance to Mission San Xavier del Bac Misssion. The Church is very old and requires constant repairs
Unlike the other Spanish missions in Arizona, San Xavier is still actively run by Franciscans and continues to serve the Native community by which it was built.
A beautiful main, restored wall filled with ornaments at the entrance to Mission San Xavier del Bac Misssion
The church rejects requests to be used for advertising of commercial businesses or used as a set for movies or photo shoots.
Figure of San Francisco Xavier (laying down) on the right side inside of the San Xavier del Bas Mission
The Mission was created to serve the needs of the local community here, the village of Wa:k (San Xavier District) on the Tohono O’odham reservation, as it still does today.
The interior of the church San Xavier del Bac Mission
Many people from all over the United States and the world wanted to have their special events at the mission, and sometimes that can be accommodated, but the policy of the Mission staff is to do only marriages, baptisms, etc. for the local community.
Everyone is welcome to attend Masses, special celebrations (like feast days), etc., but it is their belief that one’s sacramental life should be shared within a person’s local parish community.
There are many saints and angels in the walls of the San Xavier del Bac
A large number of statues of saints and angels on the walls of the church give the impression of flying, and that increases the dramatic impression
Widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States, it hosts some 200,000 visitors each year.
Impressive interior of the church San Xavier del Bac Mission in Arizona
Around the church San Xavier del Bas Mission
Around the church San Xavier del Bas Mission
Cactuses of all shapes are the most common and the most typical plant in the Arizona desert
A little chapel near to the San Xavier del Bac Mission – place where people can light the candles
A quiet place for believers – the chapel dedicated to Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary
Only members of the local community are allowed to have weddings in San Xavier del Bac Mission
It is a huge honor to have wedding in San Xavier del Bac Mission
On a small hill next to the Mission raised crosses are symbolizing Christian spirit and lion statues symbolically protect the church
A closer look at raised crosses and lion statues around the San Xavier del Bac Mission
Local people sell their food to the tourists who come to see the Mission San Xavier del Bac
‘Ja sam nastojala da pronađem svoj talenat, gradim sopstvene vrednosti i pronadjem svoju sreću’, kaže Violeta Saković
~ Milica Purić ~
Kada je pre nekoliko godina došla iz Ivanjice u Njuork Violeta Saković, učiteljica po profesiji, nije mogla da pretpostavi da će se za par godina njen život promeniti iz korena. Optimistična i otvorena po prirodi, Violeta je delila svoja iskustva novog života preko društvenih mreža, razgovarala sa ljudima, širila svoja uverenja o pozitivnom pristupu životu, snimala video snimke i postavljala ih na Youtube kanalu. Svakim danom sve više i više ljudi gledalo je njene videe, a ona je sticala sve više i vise prijatelja koji su želeli da pričaju sa njom, tražili njene savete i pažnju. Ona ih je bodrila, ohrabrivala, motivisala i učila kako da na život gledaju optimistično. Upravo zbog toga prijatelji su je nazvali ‘Dobra vila’.
Danas je ona motivacioni govornik koji ima veliku publiku i hiljade takozvanih sledbenika koji je verno prate na svim vodećim društvenim mrežama. Ljudi su inspirisani njenom životnom pirčom, činjenicom da je u Ameriku došla sama, sa samo 50 dolara u džepu, da je sa diplomom učiteljice radila kao bebi siterka (au pair) i da je takav početak nije obeshrabrio i slomio, već motivisao i osnažio. O svemu tome ona kaže:
Pre pet godina usla je u kompaniju ‘Credit Susse’ gurajuci kolica jer je kao bebi siterka dovela dete kod oca koji je tu radio. Tada se zarekla sebi da ce jednog dana raditi u slicnoj kompaniji, a pre nekoliko dana placeno joj je da bas na istom mestu drzi motivacioni govor. ‘Sve je moguce za one koji se trude i veruju u sebe! ‘kaze Violeta Sakovic
Violeta Saković: Rastući u malom mestu u Srbiji ja sam bila, verujem kao većina ljudi moje generacije, naučena da sledim tradicionalni put – školovanje, rad, brak i porodica, uz očekivanja da napredujem u nekoj od tih oblasti, a da u isto vreme budem što skromnija. Uzeću to slobodu da kažem da smo mi oblikovani univerzalnim zakonom okruženja, tradicije, društva, religije i stare škole roditeljstva koje treba da disciplinuje. U takvom okruženju nije bilo napora, niti vremena da se investra u sopstvene vrednosti, potencijale, talenat, jedinstvenu ličnost, potrebe i želje koje svi imamo. U takvom okruženju osećala sam se prazno, slepo i bespomoćno da gradim ili tražim sopstvenu sreću. Bila sam zatočena u svom unutrašnjem nezadovoljstvu, pod pritiskom da prihvatim brojne norme očekivanog ponašanja iako me niko nikada nije pitao da li ih volim i da li mi trebaju. Ja sam nastojala da pronađem svoj talenat, gradim sopstvene vrednosti i pronadjem svoju sreću i uvek sam osećala da mogu da promenim tu čvrstu bazu teškog života koji je trebalo da živim. Ja ću uvek poštovati svoju tradiciju jer je to veliki deo mene, ali mojoj duši su potrebni izazovi, zadovoljstvo, nešto novo, sveže i drugačije.
Urban Culture Tribe: U Americi si, kao i mnogi imigranati, radila kao bebi siterka iako imas diplomu učiteljice. Je li ti to smetalo?
‘Mojoj duši potrebni su izazovi, zadovoljstvo, nešto novo, sveže i drugačije!’ kaze Violeta
Violeta Saković: Pošto sam završila fakultet, fokusirala sam se na sledeći zahtev u unapred određenom životu: aktivno sam tražila posao, ali ga nisam pronalazila. Umesto da sedim i sažaljevam samu sebe, prihvatila sam se druge najbolje opcije: mogućnosti da radim, studiram i istražim potpuno novi svet u Americi kao bebi siterka (au pair). Tada se sve sklopilo, a ja sam shvatila da ja samo glumim u mom životu! Odlučila sam da pratim svoje srce i svoje snove i da sve radim prateći svoj ritam. Došla sam u Ameriku i novo poglavlje mog života je počelo. Nisam se stidela da radim kao bebi siterka iako imam diplomu učiteljice. Ne smeta mi da po ceo dan menjam pelene iako nisam majka. Nisam bila uplašena ni kada sam imala samo 50 dolara u mom džepu, zato što verujem da moja snaga nije u količini novca koji sam imala, nego u svemu drugom što sam imala da ponudim: mojim veštinama, znanju, radu i želji da učim i dam najbolje od sebe. Ja znam da moj život zavisi jedino od mene i zato sam investirala svu moju energiju u kompletno verovanje u samu sebe.
Urban Culture Tribe: Snimila si video o tome da si u novu zemlju došla sa samo 50 dolara u džepu. Interesantno je, medjutim, da te to nije ni uplašilo, ni obeshrabrilo. Kako je to moguće?
‘Moja snaga nije u količini novca koji sam imala, nego u mojim veštinama, znanju, radu i želji da učim i dam najbolje od sebe!’
Violeta Saković: Morala sam da dodjem u Ameriku da bih shvatila koje potencijale imam. Doći u ovu zemlju samo sa 50 dolara u džepu je samo pokazatelj da to što nemate novca ne treba da vas zaustavi od pokušaja. Mene sigurno nije zaustavilo. Umesto da krivim druge zato što nisam imala ono što sam mislila da treba da imam, preuzela sam akciju i odgovornost za svoj život. Za mene je dolazak u Ameriku i posao bebi siterke bio samo ulaz i korak ka samo-aktualizaciji. Budući da sam ovde bila sama, nisam imala nikoga da se oslonim, računam na bilo kakvu vrstu pomoći ili da krivim za propuštene mogućnosti. Ovde sam naučila da mogu da izgradim život kakav sam oduvek želela samo ako se oslanjam na moju intuiciju i jaku veru u sebe. Zahvaljujući tome, ja sam spoznala koliko sam vredna i moćna. Duboko sam uverena da svaka osoba koja se bori sa životnim neizvesnostima može da dosegne isto sto i ja i zato se nadam da će moji motivacioni govori pomoći drugima da uvide svoju snagu. Takodje verujem da ljudi treba da čuju moju životnu priču, nauče kako da ne odustaju, kako da ne izgube veru i pristanu na manje nego što priželjkuju. Broj ljudi koji me sledi na društvenim mrežama pokazuje da je moja odluka da podelim svoju životnu priču bila ispravna.
Urban Culture Tribe: Kakvi su vam bili utisci o Americi i Njujorku? Da li ste bili uplašeni ili ushićeni? Da li ste bili srećni sa smeštajem, poslom, novim životom? Jeste li imali problema da se naviknete na novi život?
‘Dobra vila je simbol moje nesebične ličnosti koja je uvek nadje vreme i način da pomaže drugima,’ kaže Violeta Saković
Violeta Saković: Moj prvi utisak je bio da je ovde sve veliko – kola, zgrade, putevi, rerne, frižideri… Ništa od toga me nije uplašilo, već samo ushićivalo i izazivalo. Amerika i Njujork su mi bili nepoznati. Mislila sam da znam sve gledajući filmove, ali kao što znamo filmovi su uglavnom fikcija i estetika. Iskreno, nisam imala nikakva veća očekivanja od ovog grada ili države, ali jesam od sebe. Univerzum je radio u momentu kada sam odlučila da promenim moj život, a to je lako mogla da bude i neka druga destinacija u svetu. Bilo je tako mnogo stvari koje je trebalo da naučim, steknem, dokažem sebi da mogu. Zaista nije bilo razloga da budem uplašena. Uplašena od čega? Razočaranja? Izgubljenih očekivanja? Nisam bila uplašena, nego samo malo zbunjena u početku zato što su moje misli još bile u Srbiji, dok sam ja bila u Americi. To je nestalo čim sam naučila da živim u sadašnjem momentu. Budući da sam felksibilna i da se brzo adaptiram ja sam brzo našla posao u struci za koju se nisam školovala. Ako uzmete stvari u životu kao privremene vi možete da u njima mnogo vise uživate. Ja sam naučila kako da budem majka jednoj osobi koja nije bila nimalo kao ja, potpuni stranac. Bila sam zaprepasćena količinom zaštite, ljubavi i strpljenja koje sam otkrila u sebi, radeći sa ovom devojčicom svaki dan. Bio je to interesantnto dostignuće u mom životu. Američki način poduzanja dece me zaprepastio, a ja sam naučila da je stalna podrška najbolji poklon koji možemo da damo detetu. To je najvrednija lekcija koju sam ikada naučila.
Osmesi govore sve: posle nekoliko godina, Violeta konacno sa mamom usred NJujorka, na Tajms skveru
Urban Culture Tribe: Ističete da verujete u Zakon privlačenja. Šta vas je navelo da poverujete u taj zakon i kako ste ga otkrili?
Violeta Saković: Čim sam naučila o Nikoli Tesli i njegovom razumevanju Univerzuma, energije i frekvencije na časovima fizike zainteresovala sam se za učenje o svim vrstama privlačenja. Godinama kasnije počela sam da primenjujem njegovo učenje na opservacije o ljudima. Pitala sam se u čemu je razlika izmedju ljudi koji su zadovoljni životom i onih koji su nezadovoljni i zaključila sam da su njihovi načini razmišljanja i vizije života potpuno drugačije. Ako se konstantno žalite i osećate bedno, život će vam dati još vise razloga da se žalite. Ako se osećate zadovoljno život će vam dati još vise razloga za zahvalnost. Naša privlačnost je u našem sjaju. Ja sam prepoznala da moje nesvesno koristi Zakon privlačenja kao ideju za akciju. Jedan od primera je pronalaženje posla bebi siterke u Njujorku, pošto nisam mogla da nadjem posao u Srbiji. Razumela sam da sam negde duboko oduvek želala da dodjem u Ameriku i tu živim. Sve više shvatam da me je ova destinacija zvala, jer sam ovde postigla tako mnogo – ovde sam pronašla svoju inspiraciju, energiju i samo-aktuelizaciju. Ja nisam izabrala ovo mesto, ono je mene privuklo. Hocu da kažem da Zakon privlačenja nije meditacija, ponavljanje mantre kako bi nam se ispunile neke želje. To je, pre svega, svesnost misli, želja, akcija i osećanja. To kreira sva privlačenja, čak i nesvesna. Zakon nije nešto u šta ćete da verujete ili ne verujete. To je energija, kao gravitacija – jednostavno je tu i radi sve vreme.
Urban Culture Tribe: Postavili ste veliki broj video snimaka na YouTube kanal i u njima sebe zovete ‘Dobra vila’. Otkud to ime i o čemu govorite u tim videima?
Violeta u jednom od brojnih video snimaka koje postavlja na You Tube kanal pod nazivom ‘Dobra vila’
Violeta Saković: Ime mog Youtube kanala je ‘Dobra vila’. Tu ideju sam dobila posto je mnogo ljudi, koji su sa mnom delili svoje misli, probleme, nesigurnosti, reklo da sam za njih kao dobra vila koja ih sluša i pomaže. Dobra vila je simbol moje nesebične ličnosti koja je uvek nadje vreme i način da pomaže drugima. Kroz moje videe pokušavam da motivišem ljude da se, svojim mislima, oslobode pritiska i okova koje im, nameću drugi ljudi svojim očekivanjima, kritikama i osudjivanjem. Takodje, pokušavam da ohrabrim ljude da, duboko u sebi, traže svoje prave želje i sreću i koriste svoj um i osecanja kako bi ih dosegnuli, da vide optimizam i lepotu življenja i postojanja, da se zaljube u sebe i najviše od svega da veruju u sebe i samo u sebe. Ja delim inspirativne primere ljudskih života koji pokazuju i dokazuju da je sve moguće, da smo mi povezani jedni sa drugima, da svi imamo slične nesigurnosti, ali da se suočavamo sa njima na različite načine. Ja pokušavam da zadržim moje slušaoce na ‘sunčanoj’ strani svake situacije i naučim ih da nadju inspiraciju u svakom iskustvu. Treba se fokusirati na kreiranje osećanja jer privlačimo ono kako se osećamo.
Urban Culture Tribe: Ko su tvoji slušaoci na YouTube kanalu? Koliko su stari? Ima li više muškaraca ili žena? Jesu li iz Srbije, Evrope ili Amerike?
‘Nedostatak vere u sebe je iznenadjujući. To je jednostavno strah da izadjemo iz svih problema,’ kaze Violeta.
Violeta Saković: Populacija koja me prati je raznolika. Za skoro svaku temu o kojoj pričam dobijam odgovore i od žena i od muškaraca. Svi smo prošli kroz teške periode u našem životu i verujem da svako može da nadje inspiraciju u mojim videima, debatama, učenju… Zato ne bih moje slušaoce delila prema polu. Moji videi su na srpskom jeziku i većina ljudi koja me prati su oni koji razumeju taj jezik. Takodje, fokusirana sam na probleme I teme koje su znam još iz Srbije. Medjutim, pošto godinama živim u Americi počela sam da razumevam američki način razmišljanja. Zato će moji sledeći projekti biti dostupni i na engleskom.
Urban Culture Tribe: Ljudi dele sa tobom svoje probleme, nade, želje… Možeš li da nam kažes koji su generalno njihovi najveći strahovi. Kako ih smiruješ i hrabriš?
Violeta Saković: Mislim da većina nas nije svesna sopstvenih nesigurnosti. Kao što sam rekla na početku o mom odrastanju u Srbiji, nedostatak samopouzdanja ljudi sa kojima svakodnevno komuniciram počinje od strahova. Od najranijih dana mi koristimo strah i ucene da uplašimo decu i to se nastavlja kroz školovanje. Ako nisi dobar djak ljutiti roditelji često će vikati na dete, ponekad koristeći fizičko kažnjavanje. Takodje nastavnici mogu da te postide pred drugom decom, a svako ko je stariji od tebe ima parvo da te maltretira, kritikuje tvoj izgled i otvoreno te ismeva. U nama se lako razvija osećaj stida, bezvrednosti i nemoći. Ako roditelji koriste iste metode, nema nikoga ko bi pružio utehu, razumevanje ili nas zaštitio. To nije naša krivica i zato nepravda boli još vise. Mislimo da nismo dovoljno dobri i našim mislima kreiramo jos vise nesigurnosti.
‘Negativna mišljenja nemaju ama baš nikakav uticaj na moj život i ne mogu da zaustave moje pozitivne namere!’ kaze Violeta Sakovic
Ne postoji mogućnost da se kreira samopoštovanje i zbog toga svaki problem vidimo ka nerešiv sa ogromnim strahom od posledica (čak iako su posledice samo pozitivne). Nedostatak vere u sebe je iznenadjujući. To je jednostavno strah da izadjemo iz svih problema. U nekim situacijama ne radi se ni o strahu koji stopira ljude da preuzmu akcije za svoje dobro ili dobro svoje dece, već verovanje da nisu sposobni da preuzmu male korake kako bi, recimo, poboljšali svoje zdravlje (mentalno i fizičko). Kao da je biti zadovoljan i raditi na unapredjivanju svog zdravlja najveći mogući greh i kriminal. Letargija je još jedan problem koji uočavam kod onih koji me kontaktiraju. Čak i sa mojom pomoći, motivacijama, orudjem da promene svoje mentalno biće i negativno osecanje, mnogi i dalje očekuju da neko drugi sve uradi za njih.
Ja se trudim da dam ljudima podršku, razumevanje, pouzdanje i veru da mogu da mi kažu sve bez straha da ću ih ikada osuditi (posebno zato što mnogi od njih nemaju podršku I pomoć od najbližih u porodici). Ja im pomažem da shvate svoju snagu, moć, vrednost, ljubav i sreću koju zaslužuju, prvo da vole i uživaju u životu. Ja im pomažem da se zaljube u sebe i prihvate sebe onakvi kakvi jesu. Svaka osoba koju sam upoznala preko mog kanala je neverovatna, hrabra i posebna. Zaista se nadam da će i oni to shvatiti!
‘Negativne reakcije kod publike znače da ljudi nisu potpuno ravnodušni u životu!’ Violeta Sakovic na konferenciji posvećenoj Nikoli Tesli u Njujorku, januar 2017
Urban Culture Tribe:Ipak, ne misle svi da je vaša filozofija dora. Na Facebooku ima ljudi koji nisu bas prijateljski nastrojni prema vašim motivacionim porukama. Kako im odgovarate?
Violeta Saković: Moja strana je javna i ja sam se pripremila na negativne komentare. Lekcija koju sam naučila i koju želim da učim druge ljude jeste da negativna mišljenja nemaju ama baš nikakav uticaj na moj život i ne mogu da zaustave moje pozitivne namere. Ipak, imam razumevanje prema ljudima koji me kritikuju zato što sam svesna da nije mnogo ljudi spremno da preuzme odgovornost za svoja dela. To mi pomaže da shvatim mnogo o njima dok za to vreme učim mnogo o sebi. Zadovoljna sam i za te negativne reakcije kod publike jer je to dokaz da nisu potpuno ravnodušni u životu. Zato cenim podjednako negativne komentare, kao i pozitivne. Poštujem konstruktivne debate i jedva ih čekam. Mislim da svi možemo da naučimo mnogo jedni od drugih.
Urban Culture Tribe: Čula sam da pišes knjigu. O čemu će biti?
Violeta Saković: Ostaviću to čitaocima da otkriju. Biće u njoj nekih orudja za pomoć da utičemo na svoj život.
When she came to New York a few years ago from Ivanjica, a small Serbian town, teacher Violeta Sakovic could not imagine that her life would soon change from the root. Optimistic and open by nature, Violeta has started sharing her experience of a new life via social networking, talking to people, spreading her beliefs about a positive approach to life, and filming videos for her YouTube channel. Every day more and more people watched her videos, and she gained more and more friends who wanted to talk to her, seeking her advice and attention. She encouraged, motivated and taught them how to have an optimistic approach to life. That is why her friends gave her the name “Fairy.” Today she is a motivational speaker with thousands of people who follow her on all leading social networks. People are inspired by her life story, by the fact that she came to America alone, with $50 in her pocket, that she had worked as an au pair (babysitter) with a diploma of the teacher and that such a start did not discourage or break her, but motivated and empowered her. She says about that:
Violeta Sakovic is speaking at Credit Susse company (March, 2017)
Violeta Sakovic: Growing up in a small place in Serbia, I was, like the most of the people of my generation, taught to follow a traditional way of living — education, work, marriage and family, just in that order — with expectations to excel in each of them, while being the most modest of all. I will take liberty to say that we were pretty much shaped by universal laws of environment, tradition, society, religion and the same “old school” disciplinary parenting. In that setting, there was no effort or time for investing in our self-worth, potentials, talents and a unique personality, needs and wishes we all have had. With an upbringing like this, I felt empty, blind and helpless to build or look for my own happiness, imprisoned in my own inner dissatisfaction… I felt pressured to accept numerous norms of expected behavior without ever being asked would I like them, or need them, and were they really necessary. I have always had a feeling that I can change that solid base of the harsh life I was taught to live. I was striving to find my talents, build my self-worth and find my own happiness. I will always respect my tradition, as it is a big part of me, but my soul needed challenges, satisfaction, something new, fresh and different.
Urban Culture Tribe: Like many well-educated immigrants who came to live in America you worked as a babysitter, even though you are a teacher. Did that bother you?
‘I follow my heart, my dreams, and my desires!’
Violeta Sakovic: After I had finished my college, I focused on the second order of my predetermined life. I was actively looking for a job, but I could not find any. Instead of sitting and feeling sorry for myself, I took the second best option: the opportunity to work, study and explore the whole new world in the U.S.A. as an au pair. That is when it all clicked and I realized that only I am acting upon my own life! I decided to follow my heart, my dreams and my desires in my own timing.
I came here and a new chapter of my life started. I knew that my life depended solely on me. I was not ashamed to work as a babysitter here despite my teaching degree. I did not mind changing diapers all day despite the fact I am not a mother. I was not afraid to depend on only $50 in my pocket because I believed that my power was not in the amount of money I had had, but in everything else I had to offer: my skills, talents, knowledge, hard work and desire to learn and give my best. l invested all my energy in completely believing in myself!
Urban Culture Tribe: You made a video about coming to the U.S. with those $50 in your pocket. How did you survive with such so little money?
Rafting in Poconis: Violeta Sakovic (far right) with friends Marta and Sanja in Poconos, 2016
Violeta Sakovic: I had to come to the U.S. to realize what potential I have. Coming here with only $50 in my pocket is just an example that not having any money should not stop you from trying. It for sure did not stop me. Instead of blaming others for not having what I thought I was entitled to, I took the action and responsibility for my own life. For me, coming here as an au pair was an entrance and a step to self-actualization. By being here alone I did not have anybody to rely on, to count on for any kind of help or to blame for missed opportunities. It is here where I learned that I can build the life I had always wanted only by following and depending on my intuition and a strong belief in myself. Thanks to all that, I perceived how worthy and powerful I am. I deeply believe and know that every person who struggles with life’s insecurities can achieve the same, and I am hoping that with my motivational speeches I will help others to realize their own power. I also believed that people needed to hear my life story to learn how to never give up, lose the faith or settle for less than desired. The number of people who follow me on social media proves that my decision to share my beliefs was right.
Urban Culture Tribe: What was your first impression about America and New York? Have you been scared? Excited?
‘I thought I knew about the life here from the movies, but movies are fiction…’
Violeta Sakovic: America and New York were unknown to me. I thought I knew about the life in New York from movies, but we all know that movies are mostly fiction and aesthetics. When I decided to come to America I honestly did not have any big expectations of the city or the country. I had only expectations of myself. The Universe worked that the moment I made the decision to change my life opportunities in New York opened. It could have easily been any other destination in the world. My first impression was that everything here was so big — cars, buildings, roads, stoves, refrigerators to name a few. None of that was making me uncomfortable, but rather excited and challenged. There were so many new things to learn, acquire and to prove myself that I can. There really was not any reason to feel scared. Scared of what? Disappointment? Lost expectations? Bad luck? I was not scared, but a bit confused in the beginning because my thoughts were still in Serbia while my body was here. That disappeared as soon as I learned how to live in the present moment. Flexible and adaptable as I am, I quickly found joy in a job I was not educated for. If you take things in life as only temporary, you can enjoy them more.
(from the right) Violeta, Zoe, the little girl she takes care of, and Victoria, Zoe’s mom
Besides, I loved to learn how to be a mother to a little individual who was nothing like me, a complete stranger. I was amazed by the amount of protection, love, and patience I had discovered within me, working with this little girl every day. It was an interesting achievement of my life. The American way of upbringing the children stunned me — I learned that the best present and a mark you can leave in a child’s life is your unfailing support! That is the most valuable lesson I have ever learned. All that experiences are my way of accommodating in the present situations. If my life had not been a satisfaction here, I have my home where I can always come back.
Urban Culture Tribe: You say very often that you believe in the Law of attraction. What made you believe in that? How did you discover it?
‘I took the opportunity to work, study and explore the whole new world in the U.S.A.’
Violeta Sakovic: As soon as I learned about Nikola Tesla and his understanding of the universe, energy, and frequency in my physics class, I got interested in learning about all of the kinds of attractions there might be. Years later I applied his teachings to an observation of the people around me. I wondered what are the differences in lives of content and noncontent people, and I concluded that their ways of thinking and visions of life are completely opposite. If you constantly complain and feel miserable, life will give you more reasons for complaining. If you feel content, life gives you more reasons for gratitude. Your glow is your allure.
In my case, I recognized that my subconscious was using the Law of attraction as ideas for actions. One of the examples is finding the program for an au pair job in the U.S.A. after I could not find a job in Serbia. I understood that somewhere deep, deep inside me I always wanted to come and live here. More and more I understand that this destination was calling me, as I achieved so much here and found my inspiration, energy and self-actualization at this place. I did not choose it, it attracted me. I want to say that the Law of Attraction is not simply a meditation with a repeating mantra for some wishes you beg the universe for. It is primarily awareness of the thoughts, words, actions and feelings. These create all attractions, even if subconscious. The Law by itself is nothing to be believed or not to be believed in. It is energy, like gravity — it is there and it works all the time.
Sunday Service with Margaret (who is 103) in Unity Centar New York, 2016
Urban Culture Tribe: You recorded and published many motivational videos on YouTube and in them, you call yourself “Good Fairy.” How did you come up with that name and what do you talk about in those videos?
Violeta Sakovic: The name of my YouTube channel is “Good Fairy.” The idea came after numerous people who contacted me and shared their thoughts, problems and uncertainties with me told me that I was like a good fairy who always listens and helps them. Fairy is a symbol of this unselfish personality of mine, which would always find the time and way to help others. Through my videos, I am trying to motivate people to use their thoughts to free themselves of the pressure and shackles of others people’s expectations, judgments, critics. I try to encourage them to search deep inside them for their real desires and happiness and use their mind and feelings to act in order to acquire them, to see the optimism and the beauty of living and being, to fall in love with themselves, and most of all to believe in themselves and only themselves. I shared the extraordinary inspirational examples of people’s lives which showed and proved that everything is possible, that we are all interacted with each other and that we all pretty much have the same or similar life’s insecurities, but each of us faces them in a different way. I am trying to keep my listeners’ focus on a nicer, “sunnier” side of every situation and teach them to find an inspiration in every experience. We need to focus on creating our feelings because we attract how we feel.
Enjoying the nice weather by the ocean
Urban Culture Tribe: Who are your numerous followers on YouTube? How old are they? Are they mostly men or women? Where are they from?
Violeta Sakovic: The population who follows me is very diverse. For almost every topic I talk about, I get responses from both men and women. We all get through harsh times in our life sometimes, and I believe that everyone can find some helpful inspiration in my writings, debates, teachings. That’s why I would not gender-characterize them. Also, since my YouTube videos are in my native language, Serbian, most of the people who follow me are the ones who understand that language. I also do focus on problems and subjects I was familiar with while I lived at home. However, the years of living on this continent made me study and understand the American way of thinking, so soon my projects will be available in English too.
Urban Culture Tribe: People share with you their hopes, wishes, fears, struggles… Can you tell us what are their generally biggest fears, what are they afraid of? How do you console and encourage them?
Violeta Sakovic: I think that most of us are not even aware of our own insecurities. As I said earlier about my youth in Serbia, lack of self-confidence in people I communicate with on a daily basis, and my own, started with fears. From an early age, we tend to use fear and blackmail to scare children, and that continues throughout our school years. If you did poorly at school, parents would often get mad and raise their voice, threaten or even physically beat you up as you “broke” their expectations. Teachers can embarrass children in front of the whole class. Every person older than you had a right to bully you, to criticize the way you look and to openly make fun of you. The sense of shame, feeling worthless and powerless was easily developing inside us. As parents themselves used the same methods, there was nobody for consolation with empathy, understanding or an aim to protect us. None of that was our fault, and injustice hurts even more. It is hard to overcome that perception, and we tend to create even more insecurities within our own thoughts. This strong impact made us all think that we are never good enough.
With new friends at ‘Abraham’ seminar in Washington
There was no opportunity to create self-confidence, and therefore we see every problem as unsolvable and with enormous fears of consequences (even if consequences are only positive). Lack of believing in ourselves is surprising. There is simply a fear to get out of our own problems. In some situations, it is not even fear that stops people from acting for their own good or for the good of their children, but the belief that they are incapable of taking simple steps for, for example, improving their health (both mental and physical). It seems that being content and working on improving life is the biggest sin and crime committed. Lethargy is another problem I can often notice in people who contact me. Even with all my help, motivation, tools to change their mental being and negative feelings, many of them still expect somebody else to do their own work.
I try to give people my support, understanding, confidence, and trust so they can tell me all they want without a fear that I will ever judge them (as many of them do not have a support and understanding from their closest family and friends). I help them to realize their own strength, power, worthiness, love, and happiness that they deserve. I help them to realize that have a right to love and enjoy life, to fall in love with themselves and accept themselves as they just are. Every person I met through my channel is an amazing, brave and remarkable individual. I really hope they will realize that themselves!
‘Lack of believing in ourselves is surprising. There is simply a fear to get out of our own problems,’ Violeta Sakovic
Urban Culture Tribe:Not everyone thinks that your philosophy is true and positive. There are people who are unfriendly towards your motivational messages. How do you respond to them?
Violeta Sakovic: My page is public and I prepared myself for negative comments. The lesson I learned and intended to teach to others is that negative opinions do not have an impact on my life or my work and cannot stop me in my positive intentions. I have understanding for people who judge and criticize me because I am aware that not many people are ready to take responsibilities for their actions. It helps me to learn more about them while at the same time I learn a lot about me. I am glad I provoke negative reactions from the audience as well, as this is a proof that they are not completely indifferent to their life. I actually appreciate the negative comments as much as the positive. However, I respect constructive debates much more and always look forward to such. We can all learn from each other.
Cheers for the life
Urban Culture Tribe: I heard that you are writing a book. What will you write about?
Violeta Sakovic: I will leave that for the reader to find out. I can say now that there will be some of the helping tools that will show us how to make our life better.
