Art and Writing as a Single Practice
A Dutch/Yugoslav author and multi-disciplinary artist whose writing operates at the threshold between philosophy, visual art, and lived consciousness. Active as a contemporary artist since the late 1990s, he extends his visual practice into literature, treating the book not as commentary on art, but as an extension of it—another medium through which existence examines itself.
Primarily known for his visual practice—ranging from Ultra HD prints to sculptural works in jute rope—Tosha integrates his artworks directly into his books. These are not illustrations but material arguments: tangible manifestations of philosophical inquiry. The page becomes a spatial field; the sculpture becomes a sentence; the exhibition becomes a form of syntax.
Across mediums, ZT Tosha treats existence as both subject and material. His work does not offer resolution but constructs a precise, self-aware tension—where consciousness observes its own architecture, and art becomes the act of that observation.
by ZT Tosha
- Format: The text is composed of recovered therapy transcripts, diary fragments, clinical observations, and schematic diagrams.
- Perspective: The reader is positioned as a detached observer or “archivist,” kept at a clinical distance from the subject.
- The “Assembler”: The title refers to the artist’s attempt to build a person from “borrowed bones” and memory.
- Systemic Breakdown: Instead of a journey toward healing, the book documents an “administrative process” where identity is treated as infrastructure or a system under audit.
- Mechanization of Metaphor: Tosha avoids using machines merely as metaphors for the mind; instead, he “mechanizes the metaphor itself,” with passages where consciousness is logged as data (e.g., “Fear → Strain → Inertia → War”).
- Authenticity vs. Performance: It interrogates whether identity is a truth to be discovered or a “lie laboriously maintained” until it reaches a point of “system failure”.
- Samuel Beckett (reduction of language toward silence).
- W.G. Sebald and Thomas Bernhard (uncompromising, austere prose).
- Borges and Nabokov (metafictional elements).
" by ZT Tosha
ZT Tosha
by ZT Tosha
- The Construction: The protagonist doesn’t just change his name; he crafts an entire biography for Andreas—new tastes, new memories, and a new way of walking. He treats identity like a sculpture, chiseling away his “true” self to reveal this curated stranger.
- The Slip: The tension of the novel arises when the “invented” Andreas begins to exhibit behaviors and memories that the protagonist never programmed. The mask begins to eat the face, leading to a haunting question: If you pretend to be someone else long enough, who is actually doing the pretending?
- The “Weight” of Identity: Tosha argues that having a stable identity is an exhausting administrative burden. The protagonist seeks “lightness” by abandoning his history, only to find that a new identity carries its own gravitational pull.
- The Mirror Phase: Much like his visual art, the book explores the moment we recognize ourselves in a mirror—or, in this case, fail to. It questions if the “self” is just a collection of reflections from the people around us.
- Erasure vs. Creation: The book suggests that to create something new (Andreas), you must violently erase something old (the self). This mirrors Tosha’s painting technique, where he often applies layers of paint only to scrape or “blur” them away.
- The “Blur” Technique: Just as he uses a “blur” in his Ultra HD prints to suggest movement and the loss of focus, his prose often shifts between sharp, crystal-clear descriptions and hazy, stream-of-consciousness passages.
- Isolation: The setting is often minimalist—empty rooms, quiet streets, and internal landscapes—echoing the loneliness of the existentialist tradition (Sartre, Camus).
A Garden for Orpheus
by ZT Tosha
Dive into the depths of human consciousness with ‘A Garden for Orpheus, ‘ a captivating journey that merges art and philosophy to illuminate the hidden corridors of our minds. Crafted by visionary artist ZT Tosha, this transformative collection invites you to explore the profound mysteries of existence.
In this intellectual odyssey, ‘A Garden for Orpheus’ delves into the fundamental questions of consciousness, probing the boundaries between the physical and the metaphysical. Through a synergy of artistic vision and philosophical inquiry, the book unveils the unseen forces shaping our reality and challenges us to reconsider the nature of our existence.
Within its pages, ‘A Garden for Orpheus’ serves as both a mirror and a portal, reflecting our innermost thoughts and offering glimpses into uncharted territories of the psyche. Each vibrant image by ZT Tosha is a fusion of artistic expression and deep contemplation, accompanied by insightful narration that renders abstract concepts tangible and comprehensible.
Themes of introspection and exploration permeate the narrative, urging readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery. Rather than providing definitive answers, ‘A Garden for Orpheus’ ignites curiosity and imagination, fostering a profound internal dialogue that transcends the pages of the book.
Embark on this unparalleled voyage into the human experience, where art and thought converge to reveal the boundless potential of the human spirit. Join us as we venture into the depths of consciousness, guided by the transformative power of ‘A Garden for Orpheus, ‘ awaiting to illuminate and inspire.
