By Danielle Smith
Staff Writer
German artist Norbert Tadeusz showcases expert techniques, draws inspiration from his studio space and creates movement with vibrant colors in his newest exhibit. Thirty of his unique pieces are currently on display in the El Segundo Museum of Art.
The simplicity of the one-room gallery is striking, as the massive paintings seem to come alive in contrast with the white walls. Tadeusz’s artwork is composed of bold colors and a wide variety of subjects that capture the movement of the human body.
Although Tadeusz is a widely renowned artist internationally, his work is virtually unknown in the United States. After his death in 2011, Tadeusz left behind over two-thousand works of art, thirty of which are on display as part of Experience 17: “Studio.”
The exhibit is the museum’s first exhibition of a single artist. The European owners of the museum set out to create an experience that encourages viewers to interpret art and learn for themselves, rather than have a curator write labels for each painting. This approach is effective in inspiring the viewer to become personally involved with the pieces.
The collection focuses on Tadeusz’s obsession with capturing movement in the human body. His talent is obvious as his emphasis on architectural lines and shadow create successfully balanced pieces. All of the pieces on display are paintings Tadeusz created of his studio, with some of them even featuring Norbert himself.
Tadeusz developed a unique method to forge a perfect balance in his compositions by piecing together multiple photographs of his subjects. This process results in a cohesive blend of different scenes occuring simultaneously.
The most striking aspect of Tadeusz’s masterpieces, besides the monumental size of the canvases, are the bold colors he chose to work with. A wide variety of colors blend together in his paintings in unusual ways. Deep shadows of blue and purple are merged with pink and yellow highlights that pop out strikingly to viewers.
Tadeusz juxtaposes animal carcasses, naked women and circus figures together in an unique and almost disturbing way, leading to intriguing artwork. The artist’s eccentric point of view is apparent in pieces in which he puts his own twist on classic art styles such as still life, portraits, and nude study.
Tadeusz often photographed nude models in his studio, twisted in unusual positions, as inspiration for his stunning paintings. In some pieces, he included his shadow accidentally created when taking photographs, or his shoes poking in from the edge of the canvas which creates a more personal and raw piece.
It is evident that Tadeusz put immense time and energy into his artwork. Each piece is distinctly unique, detailed, and completed with ease, making a smooth transition from Tadeusz’s mind to the canvas. The paintings effectively capture movement while rich colors enhance the overall effect.
Experience 17: Studio will close on September 27, 2015 and Tadeusz’s work will be removed from the El Segundo Museum of Art.
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