Norbert Brunner
dal 15/2/2012 al 23/3/2012
Segnalato da
15/2/2012
Norbert Brunner
Claire Oliver Gallery, New York
Smiling Broadly. Brunner has created a body of work in which one's own reflection becomes part of the performance. Not an exact reflection of reality but a distorted conveyance that readily offers back to the viewer an interface with one's own, preconceived prejudices, strengths, hopes, and experiences.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
Marcel Proust
The encounter one has with Brunner’s work is deeply personal and interactive and yet his work can be interpreted
universally. Stand directly in front of a Brunner work in order for its full content to be revealed; the Artist states, “Only
by confronting head-on what is possible can you stay true to your mission, hopes, and dreams. When you step
away from the lineal path, my work dissolves into dots of color and flashes of brilliant crystal. This glittery, shadowy
world is not clear and precise; conceptually it is a metaphor for losing your way, wandering afield from your
chosen direction. I want the viewer to experience my work, to address what is possible and take it on full-force and
straight away.”
Brunner has created a body of work in which one’s own reflection becomes part of the performance. Not an
exact reflection of reality but a distorted conveyance that readily offers back to the viewer an interface with one’s
own, preconceived prejudices, strengths, hopes, and experiences. The Artist adopts a philosophical sense of
humor, resisting outside pressures and transcending the prevailing environment rather than “coping” with it. LED
lights installed within the framework of each piece illuminate the sparkling, seductive texts made of Swarovski
crystals. Pixilated colors combine through three layers of Plexiglas to create portraits of beautiful eyes studying the
viewer; are we the subject or the object of this performance?
These works call into question our interpretation of a “portrait” as a real moment in time. Neither a mirror nor a
photograph can capture reality; we see only an interpretation of that which is captured in the confines of our
perception of time. By encouraging the viewer’s confrontation in a positive way, Brunner leaves us to come away
from the work empowered, optimistic, and energized.
Artists have long been known to set historical precedent by foreshadowing and influencing world cultural shifts.
Brunner makes an empowering physical encounter for the viewer of these works; we become immediately
engaged; we recognize we all posses the ability to determine our own life path. Each of us has the capacity to
change the world for the better, with new attitudes that integrate the principles of social responsibility and culture
with a global outlook; we are a world looking for answers. We “Google” and “Tweet” and propagate a 24-hour
news cycle all in an attempt to gather information to explain why and who we are. Brunner speaks directly to this
quest, infusing a sense of soul into his works, delighting the viewer both visually and conceptually. The answers in
life will come from within ourselves when we are brave enough to confront the questions directly.
Don’t Wait, Start Now
Recognize the Potential
Visualize the Extraordinary
Anticipate Greatness
Image: Don’t Wait, Start Now | Digital print on acrylic glass, acrylic mirror, Swarovski crystals, MDF, LED lights | 29.5 x 70.87 in.
Opening reception with the Artist: Thursday, February 16, 6-8 pm
Claire Oliver Gallery
513 West 26th Street 21 New York
Hours Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Admission free