EXHIBITION
“CHRISTUS – BILD UND SINNBILD” – Erzbischöfliche Palais Salzburg
The opening of the exhibition: “CHRIST – BILD UND SINNBILD”, showing exclusively pictures by Franz Dürnberger, took place on April 25, 2017. The location of the exhibition was the Archbishop’s Palace (“Bischofshaus”) in the center of Salzburg.
Some of the pictures that were shown at this exhibition date back years (from 2012). For the purposes of this exhibition, however, they underwent revision, some of them considerably so. The final results reflect an internal process in the artist himself, in terms of both color and material.
These religious works – if they can briefly be characterized as such, live and give live, through the expressive force of a reduced formal language and their symbolism. The latter is often reinforced by natural or plastic materials. In addition, there is usually a very strong contrast between dark and light, combined with the often used triad of the basic colors.
The somewhat larger pictures of the exhibition, with a direct reference to the topic (“CHRIST – BILD”) are not “devotional pictures” or “icons” in the traditional sense. However, they move constructively within this field and are original, as well as spiritually “charged”. (Biblical texts – are available – and correspond to the pictures and assist the attentive viewer in the understanding this background.)
Concerning colour and materials:
What was initially almost only a stark contrast of elementary black and white, with play of only metallic colors, is “enriched” and “relieved” by color! The triad of the basic colors, blue-red-yellow, which is an aesthetic representation of the Trinity, plays the central role. But also the metallic tones that were used earlier: gold, silver and bronze tones are in some cases enhanced.
In addition to the three basic colors, the (fresh) green has also been added to this thematic work, although mostly only in the most visually-captivating cans.
Green is the most independent and peculiar mixed color. It represents the power and immense vitality inherent in creation.
The materials therefore show the most personal and original dimensions of Franz Duernberger’s works. The materials include: bitumen, shell and stone chippings, wood and leaves, as well as plastic and metal particles. The artist emphasizes that he understand this type of collage of materials not only as an individual, aesthetic dalliance, but rather it was about symbolism and “the weight of existence” in its character, which exceeds all superficiality and ideology.
Learn more about the materials HERE!
