Pools of Creation – Tomislav Marcijuš

In photography, moments transcend mere imagery, and every click of the shutter captures not just a scene but an essence. Tomislav Marcijuš, an internationally acclaimed photographer from Croatia, embodies this ethos through his lens. Born in the quaint town of Osijek in 1990 and raised in the serene landscapes of Darda, Baranja, Marcijuš found himself drawn to various visual arts. Initially, his journey into the world of imagery began as a hobby, a mere experimentation with film and analog cameras following his graduation from the School of Construction.

Little did he know that this hobby would soon burgeon into a full-fledged passion and eventually pave the path for his illustrious career. Thus, Marcijuš Weddings, later rebranded as Marcijuš Studio, was born.

What sets Marcijuš apart is his innate ability to infuse his photographs with a timeless, dreamy quality that resonates with viewers on a profound level. His upbringing amidst the tranquil surroundings of eastern Croatia imbued him with nostalgia and serenity that seeps into every frame he captures. Reflecting on his childhood, Marcijuš remarks, “My photographs and overall creativity inevitably reflect these feelings in a timeless, dreamy style.”

However, Marcijuš’s artistic palette isn’t confined solely to the landscapes of his upbringing. Influenced by a myriad of artistic luminaries spanning film, painting, and music, he seamlessly weaves disparate influences into a cohesive tapestry of visual storytelling. From the alternative influences of the 90s to the cinematic brilliance of Andrei Tarkovsky and Wong Kar Wai, Marcijuš draws inspiration from an eclectic array of sources.

Yet, his love for collages, akin to the works of Joan Miro, Henri Matisse, Max Ernst, and Barbara Kruger, truly sets his work apart. These collages serve as a testament to Marcijuš’s penchant for experimentation, blurring the lines between reality and abstraction, between past and present.

Over the past eight years, Marcijuš has traversed continents, photographing weddings in locales ranging from England to Greece and beyond. These experiences have given him invaluable life lessons, teaching him to navigate the unpredictable terrain of existence with grace and resilience. “Photographing destination weddings has given me a wealth of life experience,” Marcijuš reflects. “It taught me how to deal with unpredictable situations and appreciate daily life.”

For Marcijuš, photography isn’t merely about freezing moments in time; it’s about capturing the essence of human experience, the fleeting yet eternal beauty surrounding us. His work embodies a delicate balance between the timeless and the contemporary, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation.

“I see my work between timeless and contemporary dialogue,” Marcijuš elucidates.

“It is a balance that acknowledges the past while embracing the possibilities of the present and the evolving future.”

In an age where instant gratification reigns supreme, Marcijuš is a testament to the enduring power of patience and dedication. The process is paramount for him, an ongoing journey of self- discovery and artistic exploration. As he aptly summarizes, “Photography represents a journey; the longer it lasts, the more you experience it.” Tomislav Marcijuš isn’t just a photographer; he’s a storyteller, weaving tales of love, nostalgia, and the human experience with every frame he captures. Through his lens, he invites us to glimpse the world as he sees it—timeless, dreamy, and infinitely beautiful.

I’m not one of those who read Susan Clarke’s book “Piranesi,” and I am not currently absorbed in the creation of stories with artificial intelligence. As the best things in life happen by chance, it is the same with these AI works. Everything stagnated until these pools were created and it all exploded. All of this was preceded by my many years of photographic experience and knowledge through my construction school education before photography. I wanted these works to stay consistent with my real photo aesthetic and style. I wrote in some of my posts how all series of pools were created: As I often stayed in Budapest and visited all the spas and usually photographed the interior of the churches, I spontaneously created spas in Baroque churches. After that the series “Abandoned Art Deco”, cinemas/theatres with swimming pools and Rococo/ Baroque villas with somewhat different swimming pools. With the Art Deco series, I was inspired somehow by the last world championship in water polo, where the Croatian team won the gold medal. It’s a less popular sport than some other sports (unfortunately, these are the reflections of our society). But I’m interested in how popular people’s reactions would be if water polo or other water sports were held in spaces like these! Old theaters and cinemas in Art Deco or some other style as halls for water sports! In that post, I received a comment: “In 1629, in the Farnese theater in Parma, they did a Naumachia with sea monsters and naval battles, and for this purpose, the large and extraordinary scenic apparatus was used, flooding the stalls duly waterproofed with the waters of the Farnesian aqueduct conveyed into tanks under the stage, and drained into the stalls thanks to the ingenious hydraulic system. So you’ve imagined something in Italy was real in the 1600s. After that, the last series of AI works I created with pools went around the world in a few days.

JVDAS BERRA    Your upbringing in eastern Croatia seems to have profoundly influenced your artistic style. How do you incorporate elements of nostalgia and serenity into your photography?

TOMISLAV MARCIJUŠ    Baranja is a dreamy region where life moves at a slow pace and where sometimes it seems that the only changes are the seasons. The landscape is calm, almost monotonous, but he taught me to appreciate small details that become eternal and to capture those fleeting moments in between. Something like “liminal” spaces that are a part of the change from one state to another, a space of ignorance, confusion, and uncertainty where old truths have been abandoned and new ideas have not yet emerged. Something I experienced often when photography was just a hobby. Nostalgia is a frequent theme in my photos, as there is a strong connection between me and where I grew up. I often photographed motifs from the immediate environment because I had no other options. Many of my photos usually have a unique atmosphere; you can almost smell and feel the space in which they are taken. My experiences and roots shape them. Still, at the same time, they reflect my desire to show life in everyday moments that everyone sees but rarely notices. The unknown sensibility, which stems from my environment and personality, remains in my work regardless of the motif or the subject which I photograph.

JB    Your artistic influences range from film to painting to music. How do these diverse influences inform your creative process?

TM    I often say that I am one of those people who grew up with western media and that, somehow, it has remained a part of me. This led to following and actively listening to music and later going to various music festivals throughout Europe. Different TV shows I followed in the early 2000s somehow subtly led me to actively follow the film industry and art film. I encountered painting more in high school, and after that, I began to follow and to go to museums whenever an opportunity arose. I see a common thread in all this, and everything works harmoniously, further enriching my creative process. That’s why my photos are often accompanied by music on social media, which gives additional emotion and atmosphere. The shots I share are inspired by shots from various films, and painting usually inspires me for the color palette I use in my work, creating collages and arranging photos on social networks into one meaningful part.

JB    You’ve captured wedding moments in numerous countries around the world. How has this experience enriched your artistic journey?

TM    Wedding photography opened many doors and allowed me to return to my private contemporary photo work, picking up where I left off a few years ago. This gave me the freedom to explore and experiment more than ever before. At the same time, it also provided me with an important balance that I consider crucial since I don’t want to be limited to just one area. Photographing destination weddings across Europe and America further enriched my ideas, especially about my work in artificial intelligence. My travels have taken me to many museums, mansions, and other inspiring locations that have fueled my imagination and new experimentation. After all these years, everything I’ve done so far is interconnected with each other, and everything is somehow actually intertwined.

JB    In an age where instant gratification reigns supreme, you emphasize the importance of the creative process. Can you elaborate on why you believe the process is more important than the result?

TM    As long as you’re in the process, that means exploring and experimenting with various other things (if you’re well organized, of course), and in my case, it’s AI and creation within Midjourney in combination with my photos and collage creation that I often share on Instagram. The process means you change as a person and artist, which always benefits me. Changes are healthy. That’s how you maintain everything you do and the vitality of yourself. Once you reach the “final result, that’s the end. Because in art, as in life, there is no final goal as long as you breathe and create.