In the book Shaped by the West Dino Kužnik (1986, Slovenia) depicts some of the most famous symbols of the American West, the car, the gas station, the road and also the landscape. This body of work was created between 2016 and 2019 on various solitary road trips. Conceptually, the series stems from the artist’s experience with the Westernization of the culture in Slovenia during its transition from socialism to capitalism, after its independence. Shaped by the West is thus a personal and artistic confrontation with the symbols of Americana from his youth opposed to his adult identity. The predominant narrative revolves around the artist’s desire to move abroad and a nostalgic vision of the American dream contrasted with his reality of living in a foreign country as well as the process of applying for an artist’s visa. Dino has lived in the USA since 2013 and has travelled through Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada in search of his artistic expression.
Text : Špela Pipan
Design : Emil Kozole
Perfect Bound, 96 pages
Edition: 300 copies
Published by : Dino Kužnik & Photon
Third edition: 2021
ISBN : 978-961-95107-3-5
COBISS.SI-ID: 62591747
