Stefan Lademann
Fitzroy Library Exhibition Space
17 March - 25 May
The War between the Sun and Moon
paintings in oils and acrylics on canvas
The Telling Off, oil on board, 67 cm x 83 cm, 2002
This week I reviewed the work of Stefan Lademann at the Fitzroy Library. This was quite a large exhibition which covered a broad range of styles and subject matter. Of the larger works in the main library, I was most impressed with the first two in line. These, I suspect, must surely be self portraits of Stefan interpreted in very original ways. They were carefully crafted in a limited palette and set me to wondering. Who the lady was giving the “telling off”, mother, wife or neighbour?That particular painting, and the striking back to back portrait in the other one (Worry Wort), were evidence of both good drawing and skilled technique with paint.
Other works in this area spoke mainly of political comment, but I was amused by the naive medieval style of number 7 (Confessions at Abbey Ghraib) with the monks dealing out a bit of rough justice.
There were many small works to fill the library cases and some of my favourites were amongst these. First was Amanda Dreams, a small surreal work in collage and oil paint. I stood there for ages imagining how the elements in this would combine into many stories. Surrealism is a difficult genre but I think Stefan has a talent for it.
Amanda Dreams, collage and oil on canvas, 40 cm x 50 cm, 2005
In another case were four “Angels.” These were fantasy creatures growing from abstracted forms into improbable other worldly shapes. Clever little creations, and who are we to say what an angel looks like? They make a charming series and look great when they are seen together as a group.
Another of my favourites was The Mask. This was constructed from an interesting mix of materials including tempera and gold leaf. Both of these materials I love, and they produce such an exotic result. The face that is the mask is both gentle and beautiful, and I sense there is something in this work, a secret message, that I have failed to read.
Stefan has a special skill in evoking images from marks, as in Fish Becomes Elephant Becomes Man Becomes Vulture. It is a complicated task to form animal shapes from the abstract, but this is done skilfully to make an intriguing picture. Standing apart from the other works because of their strikingly different use of a more sombre palette were two small pure abstracts representing night and day. These were really the only two works that had no figurative input. They relied on their colours to tell their message and it worked well.
Another work that caught my interest was Atman. On a rich background of deep blue this birdlike creature danced. He had the air of an Indian shaman or a dancer at an Inuit ceremony. A simple figment from a fertile imagination but it conveyed an air of mystery and magic.
Owing to the size of the exhibition I could only comment on a few of the paintings but here are many other works in the show worthy of comment, I can only say, if you get the time, go along and have a look for yourself. You may prefer some of the other works to the ones I have chosen. There is much to see and I think you will enjoy it!
Review by Yvonne Patton