Aussie Gerzie

Labels: artworks, recycled, sculptures, timber

Labels: exhibition, gallery, paintings, sculptures, solo show

Starting position
With my background as an architect, I tend to ‘cut to the chase’ and try to capture the essential elements of a visual experience, hence my leaning towards minimalism and abstraction. All superfluous detail is minimised or eliminated, only the lasting and significant is emphasized and captured.
Never competing with the camera
Technical perfection of reproducing what the eye sees is like a composer only re-creating the natural sounds heard in Nature. I am only interested in creating images which express my subjective response to places, feelings and try to capture of ‘being there’.
Venturing beyond the comfort zone
Many artists settle on a commercially successful style and never move beyond this safe comfort zone. All their output is much the same with slight variations. I am keen to search for variety, revel in the excitement of discovery and love experimenting with future possibilities.
The seduction of abstraction
Good abstract artists use the same basic principles as composers of music -- compositional integrity, colour, tone, texture, rhythm, harmony, contrast, balance, tension, counterpoint and so on. The objective is the same: create a mood, arouse a feeling, stir the emotions.
Focus on happiness not the dreary side of life
I like to use bright, cheerful ‘Aussie’ colours which express the thrill of being alive. I focus on creating happy and optimistic images that evoke pleasant experiences in life.
For me as an artist the real achievement is when people tell my artworks speak to them, when my creations touch their heart and spirit and when my paintings wash away the sweat and dust of their stressful working days.

At last I am back with some good news. Since my last entry I had another solo exhibition. It was successful, even though my artist friends and gallerists are telling me that sales are down generally.

To enhance my presence on the internet, I set up another website at http://www.abstractlandscapepaintings.com I hope it will improve my standing in the search engines.

Recently I created a few bas-reliefs in recycled timber, see this example.

To create artworks which nourish the human spirit, celebrate the wonders of Nature and provide enjoyment, stimulation and a touch of magic to our lives. I believe that for a meaningful existence we human beings need more than the basic necessities of food, shelter and security. We must also look after our intellectual curiosity, express our aspirations and nurture our emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
That is, we need to rise above the mundane, the ordinary and the daily drudgery of survival. This is where the arts come in. Engagement with literature, theatre, music and the visual arts provide great opportunities to satisfy our creative urges and at the same time find lasting enjoyment.

Many people, who are not conversant with the language of contemporary art, are very puzzled when encountering an abstract painting. Obviously they are looking for visual references they are familiar with, such as recognisable features from a landscape, the human body or everyday objects.
So, when the familiar depiction of the world they usually see is missing, they are confused and bewildered. They tend to ask, often with a sarcastic slant, 'what does this mean?'
It is interesting that very few venture to come to the conclusion 'I like it' or 'I do not like it'. Even though they would say exactly that if they just heard a new musical piece. This indicates to me that unfamiliar music and paintings are treated differently in people's minds.
With music, people are not looking for familiar 'natural' sounds they hear every day, such as sounds heard in the bush, at the seashore, in the city and so on. They just respond instinctively, like or dislike the song without reasoning or looking for meaning. And I am assuming lyrics are not used in this exercise.
I deliberately used music for comparison, as I strongly believe there are strong parallels between the two art forms. Both abstract art and music use the same basic elements and features when creating a 'piece': compositional integrity, colour, tone, texture, mood, rhythm, harmony, contrast, balance, tension, counterpoint and so on.
The dynamics of the creative process in both art forms are directly comparable and the parallels are strikingly similar. Yet responses to music and abstract art are often vastly different.
I do not know the reason for such divergence, I can only speculate if education (or lack of it), past experience or psychological factors are involved.

I started painting in 1970 while practising as an Architect. I have exhibited in various group and solo shows ever since. As the popularity of my paintings increased, I retired from Architecture in 1997 to paint full time.

Inspiration
My main inspiration is Nature and the unique landscapes of Australia: in particular wilderness areas, wetlands, deserts, seashores and the unspoilt countryside.

Any unique geography, specialised fauna and flora, and also the infinite variety of survival strategies in harsh environments – all such subject matters are a constant source of wonderment to me. It is no surprise they become my favourite and recurrent themes.

Artistic Influences
When considering which artists most influenced me, I must say I most admire Van Gogh’s intensity and use of colour to stir up emotions, Paul Klee’s sensitivity and insight into our inner beings, Kandinsky’s exuberance and sense of composition, Picasso’s inventiveness and broad range of interests.

Interpretation and Expression
I am told my interpretation of natural phenomena is unique, surprising and unpredictable. My paintings not only encapsulate the essential elements, colours and features of a particular place, but also recreate the ambience and the ‘feel’ of being there.

Typically, I try create images that are exuberant, highly original, vibrant, confident and eye-catching. Most pieces are charged with positive energy, richly textured and overflow with dazzling colour. Other pieces are soft, meditative and introspective.

My aim is to provide enjoyment and relaxation so as to counter the stresses of everyday life.

You can see my work at http://www.ernie-gerzabek.com