Davor Džalto (Давор Џалто) is an artist and art historian born in Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 17, 1980.
He graduated from the High School of Art in Niš. His academic career started in Belgrade where he received an M.A. degree from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy in History of Art. In 2004 he began writing his PhD thesis at the Albert-Ludwigs Universitaet in Freiburg, Germany (mentor Prof. Dr. Angeli Janhsen), where he defended it successfully in 2006, becoming the youngest Doctor of Philosophy in the humanities in Germany and the South-East European region. (ref. Ksenija Pavlovic, 10/30 Exhibition Catalogue, Belgrade: 2010, 5-6) In 2007 he became a permanent University lecturer, holding the chair in history of art and theory of creativity. As a visiting and honorary professor he teaches at various Universities in Europe and USA, including University of Prague, Indiana University, Fordham University of New York and the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade.
His work is based on examination of the relations between personhood and authorship, especially in the postmodern and globalization context. He has formulated a theory according to which art represents an expression of the personal identity of the human being, having an existential importance. That way he contributed to the revision of the postmodernism, actualizing the question of possibility and meaning of the art creation. He continued to further develop theological concepts of John Zizioulas and philosophical statements given by Nikolai Berdyaev, implementing them on the contemporary historical and cultural context. He also examines the concept of "simulacrum" in relation to the human person and its ability to create.
He also works in different art-media including video art, performance, painting, and sculpture.
His work has been presented at numerous exhibitions in different countries. He has taken part in many conferences and seminars, as well as having peace and inter-religious backgrounds. It is also held that he played an important role in South Eastern Europe in promoting peace, reconciliation and cooperation between different religious communities, primarily because he has contacts among all important religions and religious leaders in the Balkans and in Europe. He was directly involved in many initiatives during his engagement in the Pax Christi office in Belgrade. He has written a number of articles and theoretical texts. As an 18-year-old student he published his first book, On Writings as an Artistic, Historical, Social and Cultural Phenomenon. He is a founding member and the Art Director of the Flexible Art Network and vice president of the Christian Cultural Center (Brooklyn, New York). He lives and works in Freiburg, Muenster and Belgrade. Based on the Aesthetik der Absenz, formulated in German speaking art circles, he recognized and explained the phenomenon of "absence of body" in twentieth century art. In 2007. his name was added to the list of 100 most influential people in the world, originating from the South Eastern European region.
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