Early stages of Moosman of Northlandia.
On November 24th, my next show at loop, Everything AND Nothing (drawings large and small) will open. I will be sharing the gallery with Barbara Rehus (see image below). As I push to finish a couple of pieces for the show I am beginning to formulate an artist statement. Today, while perusing a book on Max Beckmann, I fell upon this statement from the artist, which seemed quite apropos;
"I assume that there are two worlds: the world of spiritual life and the world of political reality. Both are manifest-ations of life which may sometimes coincide, but are very different in principle. I must leave it to you to decide which is more important.
What I want to show in my work is the idea which hides behind so-called reality. I am seeking for the bridge which leads from the visible to the invisible. like the famous kabbalist who said 'If you wish to get hold of the invisible you must penetrate as deeply as possible into the visible.'
My aim is alway to get hold of the magic of reality and to transfer reality into painting - to make the invisible visible through reality. It may sound paradoxical but it is in fact, reality which forms the mystery of our existence."
Beckmann's words echo my intentions with this work. My current body of work focuses on drawing and various permutations of the drawing process. Drawing is direct, spontaneous, immediate and visceral. The act of drawing creates a direct channel to the imagination, to the unconscious. I do not predetermine what will emerge from my pencil or charcoal. I let the imagery come on its own accord.
This act of drawing has led me back to figurative, representational imagery. Inspired and influenced by metaphysical and alchemistic art, surrealism, magic realism, historical illustration and contemporary realism, I have been creating large-scale narratives with a numinous, dreamlike quality. One could call them psycho-spiritual tableaux. Bosch and Brueghal are obvious influences here. But contemporary artists such as Sandow Birk and Steven Campbell also inform my work.
"I assume that there are two worlds: the world of spiritual life and the world of political reality. Both are manifest-ations of life which may sometimes coincide, but are very different in principle. I must leave it to you to decide which is more important.
What I want to show in my work is the idea which hides behind so-called reality. I am seeking for the bridge which leads from the visible to the invisible. like the famous kabbalist who said 'If you wish to get hold of the invisible you must penetrate as deeply as possible into the visible.'
My aim is alway to get hold of the magic of reality and to transfer reality into painting - to make the invisible visible through reality. It may sound paradoxical but it is in fact, reality which forms the mystery of our existence."
Beckmann's words echo my intentions with this work. My current body of work focuses on drawing and various permutations of the drawing process. Drawing is direct, spontaneous, immediate and visceral. The act of drawing creates a direct channel to the imagination, to the unconscious. I do not predetermine what will emerge from my pencil or charcoal. I let the imagery come on its own accord.
This act of drawing has led me back to figurative, representational imagery. Inspired and influenced by metaphysical and alchemistic art, surrealism, magic realism, historical illustration and contemporary realism, I have been creating large-scale narratives with a numinous, dreamlike quality. One could call them psycho-spiritual tableaux. Bosch and Brueghal are obvious influences here. But contemporary artists such as Sandow Birk and Steven Campbell also inform my work.
Barbara Rehus, Can't Breathe
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