Expressing Emotions Through Visual Poetics

Interview with Ljubinka Dobrosavljević

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević’s exhibition Expressing Emotions Through Visual Poetics opened at Europe House Mitrovica North on April 23, 2025. The exhibition raises awareness of emotional expression through art. Featuring 3D paper-cut posters depicting various emotions, it invites reflection on personal expression. We spoke to the artist to learn more about her artistic journey and the artistic practice of this exhibition.

Europe House Kosovo: Can you tell us more about your journey as an artist, from growing up in Štrpce to studying graphic design in Zvečan?

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević: Creativity has been a part of me since my earliest years, and it continued to grow throughout my education. I’ve always been drawn to all forms of art, so studying it only further enriched my artistic expression.

Europe House Kosovo: What initially drew you to graphic design, and how has your understanding of it evolved throughout your studies?

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević: What has always fascinated me about graphic design is the harmony between artistic expression and the logic behind arranging visual elements. Studying graphic design gave me the tools and direction to weave those two worlds together in a way that feels both intentional and inspired.

Europe House Kosovo: You’ve won several awards and participated in group exhibitions and competitions. What have these experiences taught you about yourself and your art?

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević: The awards I’ve received reassure me that what I’m doing has purpose, while exhibitions continually inspire me to keep creating and exploring new ideas through my work.

Europe House Kosovo: How did the idea for “Expressing Emotions Through Visual Poetics” come to life? Was there a specific moment or inspiration behind it? And why did you choose this medium? 

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević: The idea came about spontaneously, as a project theme during my master’s studies. The reason behind this choice is my belief that 2D techniques that break into physical space leave a stronger impression — and for the theme I’m working with, creating impact was essential.

Europe House Kosovo: Each poster depicts a specific emotion. How did you decide which emotions to focus on, and why?

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević: I chose emotions that are both clear and visually engaging, making them compelling to interpret and represent through design. The first step was choosing an emotion. Then came the hand-drawn sketches, followed by the digital illustration of each emotion. Finally, everything came together through printing — and the most exciting part: assembling the elements into a postcard or poster.

Europe House Kosovo: You use a mix of materials in your work. How do different textures or materials contribute to expressing an emotion?

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević: Different textures and materials make it much easier to convey emotions, while also adding depth and a sense of dynamism to the work. Every artist’s work is, in a way, an expression of emotion — but in this project, I chose to focus on specific, clearly defined emotions. I believe art can help people who struggle to articulate their feelings. Each postcard and poster has its own title written on it, but people didn’t really need it — they recognised the emotions and connected with them on a personal level. This experience for me was overall a healing experience, although I have to admit that expressing some of the emotions was also quite challenging. 

Europe House Kosovo: The exhibition also includes postcards mirroring your designs—how do you hope visitors will engage with these?

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević: My hope is that it inspires self-reflection and sparks creative thinking in those who experience it. I would love to inspire them to at least communicate with each other about their emotions.  I believe this exhibition is, in fact, a form of dialogue — one that encourages people to connect through their emotions and share their experiences.

Europe House Kosovo: What role do you think graphic design and visual arts play in today’s social and emotional well-being?

Ljubinka Dobrosavljević: I believe visual art has a significant impact on today’s society, and I’m glad to see it becoming more and more involved in social change.