Maria Lassnig
dal 6/9/2004 al 2/10/2004
Segnalato da
6/9/2004
Maria Lassnig
Hauser & Wirth, London
Paintings. The majority of her work is deeply introspective and concerns the physical event of bodily experience, with her psychological self as the subject. These paintings are some of the most significant expressions of her belief that 'truth resides in the emotions produced within the physical shell'.
Paintings
Austrian born artist Maria Lassnig (b. 1919) is one of the most unique painters practising today. After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna she left to pursue her career in Paris and then later in New York. On her return she became the first woman to be appointed Professor of Painting at the Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna, a role from which she has influenced successive generations of painters.
The majority of her work is deeply introspective and concerns the physical event of bodily experience, with her psychological self as the subject. These paintings are some of the most significant expressions of her belief that 'truth resides in the emotions produced within the physical shell'.
Extending beyond painting, Lassnig's oeuvre comprises numerous drawings as well as sculptures and animated films. In the last few years she has gained several accolades, among them the Max Beckmann and Roswitha Haftmann Awards and the Rubens Prize of Siegen. As well as her many solo exhibitions in Austria, Germany, the USA and France, Lassnig has also participated in the Venice Biennale (1982) and in the Kassel Documenta (1982 and 1997).
In her forthcoming show at Hauser & Wirth London, she will exhibit a selection of new large-scale paintings. The works are typically bold in colour, unconventional in their subject matter and laden with Lassnig's unique sense of humour.
Works such as 'Die Trauer' (Mourning) and 'Grüne Köpfe' (Green Heads) are prime examples of her self-analytical style but this show also consists of portraits of a corpulent, male nude, which is uncommon for Lassnig as her preference has always been to use her self as the subject.
The artist describes the group of exhibited works as drastic paintings - the substantial body of this new sitter protrudes very directly from the canvas - but this description should not be taken as an attempt at categorisation, as neither the artist nor the work can be categorised that easily. Her self-titled painting styles such as 'Body-Sensation-Painting' ('Körpergefühlsmalerei') or 'Paint-Flux' ('Malflüsse') alter frequently, echoing the state of her body and mind at that particular time.
'The more tired the body is, the more realistic the painting becomes. When you are in shape, you are more aware of the body's sensations. At the beginning, my body-awareness paintings were more linear, it was all about the body's framework. Then some really abstract things happened, changes occurred and I paid more attention to the carnal aspect'.
Even though Maria Lassnig has attained critical acclaim and received several awards for her painting, the range and significance of her work is barely known outside of German-speaking Europe. The presentation of these eight paintings in London is therefore an in-depth introduction to Maria Lassnig, the body and the mind.
The exhibition is accompanied by a linen-bound catalogue in an edition of 500, with text by Mark Gisbourne.
Gallery hours: Tue–Fri 12 – 6 pm, Sat 11am – 4 pm
Next exhibition: Martin Creed, October 7 – October 30, 2004
September 8 to October 2, 2004
Opening: September 7, 2004, 6 – 8 pm
For more information and visuals, please contact:
Farah Rahim Ismail at Hauser & Wirth on +44 20 7287 2300
or
Andrew Ferguson at Purple on +44 20 7439 9888
Hauser & Wirth
196A Piccadilly
London