Unmistakable paintings by Heniz Marzhol
Heinz Marzohl’s paintings are unmistakable, they are instantly recognisable for their bold compositions, vivid colour palette and almost stippled surface. The artist’s paintings have a primal quality, wherein subjects, emotions and ideas are distilled into key symbolic elements. For example, in Yellow Boat in the Sea, Marzhol simplifies and deconstructs the boat, sea and sky into abstract forms. The result is a painting that captures the movement of a boat at sea, the energy of a wave and the warmth of a sunset sky. In The Bull of Saintes Maries, the artist depicts Saintes Maries in Provence by simplifying the architecture of 9th century Church of the Saintes Maries de la Mer. A blue bull dominates the foreground. In Running Camargue Horse, Marzhol captures the dynamic movement of a horse as large splashes of water spring from its hooves, against a swirling landscape. Marzhol is skilled at creating a powerful image by capturing the essence of an experience or an idea. “The way of creating a picture has changed again and again over the course of my 30-year career. What has remained [is] my conception of art. I don’t paint what I see, I paint my thoughts, my fantasies and my dreams. This can be something I have experienced, from which I then create something new and unprecedented with symbolic, archaic forms and touching colour tones. This is often a very long process with many sketches and drafts before I venture onto the canvas,” explains the artist.
Marzohl’s paintings are characterised by a rich and vivid colour palette. With a background in lettering technology, digital printing and graphic design, the artist has a profound knowledge of typography, reprography, serigraphy, materials, and colour theory which informs his practice. He finds inspiration in the work of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), a group of 20th century painters who sought to free art from expected conventions. The Blue Rider saw creativity as a way to express spiritual experience and took an innovative approach to colour and form. For The Blue Rider and Marzohl colour is a medium for emotional expression. Marzohl elaborates, “For me, colours are music for the eyes. Colours touch the soul and express feelings and moods. I have spent my whole life very intensively studying the effect of colours and studied all available books on colour theory. My paintings are based on this great knowledge. With a skilful selection of neighbouring colours, you can make the soul of a person vibrate and express joy or sadness.”
Boats in Sunset Acrylic on canvas / 75 x 100 cm
Marzohl’s paintings are unique for the highly personal way in which the artist renders his subjects. The artist explains, “With touching, subtle picture stories and a fascinating play with colours, I want to revive memories, inspirations and dreams in my paintings. Again and again with the deep desire to create a unique, iconic masterpiece.
Charming Red Horse. Acrylic on canvas / 75 x 100 cm
Charming White Horse Acrylic on canvas / 75 x 100 cm