In Principle Gallery’s Imaginative Realismshow opening in early October, viewers will find strong visual and thematic contrasts in the paintings of Anna Wypych and Andreas Claussen. The exhibition will feature recent and early paintings by each artist that demonstrate the breadth of imaginative realism.
Andreas Claussen, GOING DOWN LIKE THE SUN, oil on canvas, 31 x 47 in.
“I think our works complement each other primarily through contrast, but also through a shared perspective on the human condition and a changing world,” Wypych shares. “Andreas constructs his narratives through imagined scenarios, humor and irony. I more often begin with emotions, relationships and the human inner world. I am interested in what happens within us during times of change...This is why bringing our works together creates an interesting dialogue: Andreas looks at the world from a certain distance, through metaphor and absurdity, while I more often look inward. He shows the world after change; I show the human being in the process of change.”
Anna Wypych, Bring Me Flowers, oil on canvas, 20 x 28 in.
Claussen’s paintings emerge from an imagined, post-apocalyptic world in which planet Earth is flooded. “My main protagonist is a homecoming astronaut—a mix of Robinson Crusoe and Wile E. Coyote—who solitarily navigates these endless waters and engages with the found remnants of human civilization,” he says. “The setting allows for all kinds of commentary on humanity and its values. Even though this premise sounds a bit dark, the paintings are not.”
GOING DOWN LIKE THE SUN, 2022, is one of the earliest pieces from Claussen’s FLOOD series, when the artist thought to incorporate old billboards into his work. “They are a fantastic way to add literary elements to the work, pointing the viewer in a certain direction or reminding them of something,” the artist adds. “Here, the sign points to the ‘sunset’—something that is often romanticized and described as beautiful and enjoyable, but how often do we actively go out to experience it in real life? The piece also ironically references René Magritte’s painting The Treachery of Images.”
Andreas Claussen,YOU CAN DROWN IN TOO MANY OPTIONS, oil on canvas, 31 x 24 in.
Besides themes, blue hues in Claussen’s work also contrasts with reds in Wypych’s pieces, like Roses and Bring Me Flowers. “For me, this is a conscious turn towards something lighter and more affirmative,” she says. “There’s also a statement of freedom—giving myself permission to paint things that are simply beautiful. I am still interested in the human being and in femininity, but this time without having to speak about them through drama. Strength can also be expressed through delicacy, beauty and joy. And that is why Bring Me Flowers and Roses fit so naturally into the overarching theme of the show—transformation, the search for oneself.”
Anna Wypych, Roses, oil on canvas, 12 x 8 in.
Stylistically, Claussen experiments, with some pieces almost impressionistic, and others sharper and more realistic. Wypych also combines different approaches to painting from the highly precise to softer, more painterly areas.
To view the show in its entirety, head to Principle Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina, from October 2 through 31. A reception will be held on the opening day from 5 to 8 p.m. —
Principle Gallery 125 Meeting Street • Charleston, SC 29401 • (843) 727-4500 • www.principlegallery.com
Powered by Froala Editor
