(6.11.1935, Ljubljana – 23.9.2014, Ljubljana)
Maksim Sedej Jr. was an exceptional painter, graphic artist, poet and essayist. Through his images, he was interested in exploring invisible creation, human experience and the cosmic world. Even as a child, he showed a great talent for art, which he trained throughout his youth with his father, the renowned painter Maksim Sedej Sr.
His art stood out for both its intellectual and imaginative content. He was characterized by strong artistic expressiveness and energy that includes the viewer in the very process of artistic experience. Sedej Jr. explored abstract and figurative motifs. He was torn between allegory and fantasy. His works are not only artistically effective, but are active and question human existence and philosophical questions. He created several cycles, the most famous of which are Apocalypse and Four Faces of the Soul. In these, Sedej discussed the relationship between good and evil, and also delved into symbolism, energy and metaphysics.
The artistic world of Maksim Sedej Jr. is based on three basic elements: color, mass, and space. Visually, these images are harmonious, but their true power is revealed when the observer actively co-creates and interprets the dynamics between forms. In order to best depict these relationships, the artist painted with oil or aniline paints on paper, achieving a unique effect. In painting, the artist relied on the surrealists and surrealists, but he was also interested in abstract painters. In his works, the viewer essentially became a co-creator, developing critical thinking while at the same time educating himself about society and existence through experience.
Sedej Jr. was also a poet, essayist, and founder of Likovne besed, which promoted contemporary art. His creativity was extremely diverse. Sedej's opus ranges from abstract cosmic compositions to figural, allegorical, and apocalyptic scenes. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Župančič Award, and has achieved international recognition as a cultural figure and advisor in the field of art. His legacy is not just a collection of works. It is a true philosophical art, as his paintings are said to establish a dialogue with the universe. His innovation and artistic poetics remain a lasting inspiration for artists and audiences.
Maksim Sedej ml. je bil izjemen slikar, grafik, pesnik in esejist. Skozi svoje podobe se je zanimal za raziskovanje nevidnega stvarstva, človeške izkušnje in kozmičnega sveta. Že kot otrok je pokazal velik talent za umetnost, ki ga je skozi mladost uril pri očetu, priznanemu slikarju Maksimu Sedeju st.
Njegova umetnost je izstopala tako po intelektuaalni kot domišljijski vsebini. Zanj je bila značilna močna likovna ekspresivnost in energija, ki gledalca vključi v sam proces umetniškega doživljanja. Sedej ml. je raziskoval abstraktne in figuralne motive. Bil je rezpet med alegorijo in fantazijo. Njegova dela niso zgolj likovno učinkovita, temveč so aktivna in prevprašujejo človekovo eksistenco ter filozofska vprašanja. Izdelal je več ciklov, med katerimi sta najbolj slavna Apokalipsa in Štirje obrazi duše. V teh je Sedej obravnaval razmerje med dobrim in zlim, poglobil pa se je tudi simboliki, energiji in metafiziki.
Likovni svet Maksima Sedeja ml. temelji na treh osnovnih elementih: barvi, masi in prostoru. Vizualno so te podobe harmonične, njihova prava moč pa se pokaže, ko opazovalec aktivno soustvarja in interpretira dinamiko med oblikami. Da bi umetnik kar se da dobro prikazal te odnose je slikal z oljnimi ali anilinskimi barvami na papir, tako da je dosegel edinstven efekt. Pri slikanju se je umetnik oprl na nadrealiste in surealiste, zanimali pa so ga tudi slikarji abstrakcije. V njegovih delih je v bistvu gledalec postal soustvarjalec, razvijal je kritičnost, hkrati pa se je skozi izkušnjo izobražeal o družbi in obstoju.
Sedej ml. je bil tudi pesnik, esejist in ustanovitelj Likovnih besed, ki je spodbujala sodobno umetnost. Njegova ustvarjalnost je bila izredno raznolika. V opsus Sedeja najdemo od abstraktnih kozmičnih kompozicij do figuralnih, alegoričnih in apokaliptičnih prizorov. Za svoje delo je prejel številna priznanja, med njimi Župančičevo nagrado, in dosegel mednarodno prepoznavnost kot kulturnik in svetovalec na področju umetnosti. Njegova zapuščina ni le zbirka del. Gre za pravo filozofsko umetnost, saj naj bi njegove slike vzpostavile dialog z vesoljem. Njegova inovativnost in likovna poetičnost ostajajo trajen navdih za umetnike in občinstvo.
All the artists on the Porta Alpina website can be found at this link.
The text was prepared for the Porta Alpina gallery by Pia Župevec, B.Sc. art history
Besedilo je za galerijo Porta Alpina pripravila Pia Župevec, dipl. um. zgod.
SOURCES/VIRI:
Olga BUTINAR ČEH, Cvetlična duša preroškega slikarja Maksima Sedeja ml, 17.10.2023, https://zdslu.si/cvetlicna-dusa-preroskega-slikarja-maksima-sedeja-ml/ (3.10.2025).
C.C.: Ukročena fantastika uz izložbu Maksa Sedeja ml. u “Salonu Tribine mladih”Novi Sad, marec1962
J.Š.A, Umrl je Maksim Sedej ml, Delo, 24.9.2014, https://old.delo.si/kultura/vizualna-umetnost/umrl-je-maksim-sedej-ml.html, (7.10.2025).
Veno TAUFER: “Prostor i vreme”, Dnevnik, Novi Sad 5.čb.rep. 1.V,1962,
Veno TAUFER: “Neustavljivi povratak v živo postojanje” (prevod v srbohrvaščino Dejan Poznanović) u slikama Maksa Sedeja ml. POLJA, list za kulturu i umjetnost, 31.III.1962 Novi Sad
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