Saturday, September 26, 2015
Gallery 60SIX, 66 Elgin Park
Artist reception Saturday 9/26
5-8pm
open through Saturday October 31
Jürgen Trautwein
Sister 7
In his series “Sister 7” Jürgen
Trautwein investigates resistance and transparency in painting. His
practice of using found objects in his work continues as in this series
clear plastic roof sheeting acts as the canvas, creating resistance with
the acrylic paint. Jürgen has an uncanny ability to seemingly
effortlessly integrate elements of subjects or materials he confronts in
daily life in his work. Concept, process and materials unite in his
practice and overall body of work, (i.e. line drawings, photos, videos,
paintings).
In “Sister 7” strokes of paint form chance puddles, drops and
explosions when hitting the industrial plastic. Energetic marks travel a
meandering, unpredictable path. Several coats of varnish then confine
and trap the paint almost as if frozen while in escape or
motion…resulting in pictures that become controlled accidents.
Trautwein plays with transparency by layering the paintings in some
cases, where the overlap exposes the activity and color below. In the
more minimal spacious pieces the paint suggests live organisms poised
for inspection in a Petri-dish. Other works show the artist’s brush
marks subtly or boldly as they disintegrate and deconstruct. Universal
metaphors could be implied with political overtones in the exploration
of “resistance and transparency.” Trautwein’s deliberate manner and
trust in allowing these materials (plastic, paint, varnish) to
simultaneously marry and repel, create extremely diverse moods; from
violence to calm.
