Burggasse 47, 1070 Vienna, Austria

Gallery Von Racknitz + Baer is pleased to present From Near and Far, an exhibition of new works by Jonathan Niclaus in the gallery space at Burggasse 47, 1070 Vienna.

In his latest exhibition, From Near and Far, Niclaus delves into the exploration of proximity and retreat through an extensive series of textured works. This collection reflects on the complex interplay of shadow and light, capturing both visible surfaces and their hidden undertones.

Utilizing acrylic, oil and graphite on canvas, Niclaus engages in overpainting — a process that embodies both creation and destruction. This technique allows for constant evolution; sometimes sacrificing beloved elements to forge new paths on the canvas. This act of letting go underscores the urge of leaving behind the familiar to embrace the new and unknown.

Niclaus’s paintings play with accident and intent. Spontaneous elements disrupt and enhance planned compositions. This ongoing dialogue between control and chance reflects life’s unpredictability and the acts of beauty that occasionally arise from it.

The influence of classical music, particularly the compositions of Beethoven, plays a pivotal role in Niclaus’s artistic methodology. Just as Beethoven’s music dynamically shifts between loud and quiet, fast and slow, Niclaus’s painting technique mirrors these variations with big shapes contrasted against small ones, rapid strokes versus measured, deliberate applications, and the interplay of strong, vibrant colors with subtle hues.

From Near and Far explores the depths of Niclaus’s work, encouraging viewers to perceive the paintings not just as visual artifacts but as living entities that embody the rhythm, movement, and transitions of a human existence that is inextricably embedded into a moving and raging cosmos.

Niclaus contemplates this concept of motion and perspective, noting, “We perceive time as a constant, but it’s really the most abstract, and human-made, of concepts. Our lives are a mere second compared to the age of the universe. It is this notion of being lost and sheltered that I wish to capture in my images. For a single second, the idea of continuity is questioned. The viewer becomes the universe itself, observing the painting and, for a fleeting moment, simultaneously zooms into and out of their lives.”