It is impossible to view the works of French artist Bernard Frize and not be drawn into the colour. In his latest solo exhibition, at Vienna’s Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder, electric tones gather together, at times exploding in turbulent bursts. Elsewhere, fine lines of colour spill from the bottom of dense black clouds. But, not all is as it seems.
There is also much repetition within the work, multiple paintings following a similar formula, which are then divided by their intricate differences in colour. Formed from acrylic and resin on canvas, these paintings seem to push out their own light. There is no avoiding their aesthetic appeal, and Frize has been widely understood as a painter who relishes the nature of painting itself since the 1970s.
He is also often referred to as a conceptual painter, following a strict structure that underlies many of his pieces. Elements of expression and choice–despite the wonderfully stirring nature of the works–are often removed, the artist relying instead on pre-determined rules. There is a precision which underpins the chaos. Order meets with commanding visuals, and the effect is magnificent.
Bernard Frize: Turn the Pieces into a Place is showing at Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder from 1 February until 19 March. All images: © ADAGP, Paris. © photo: Markus Wörgötter. Vienna, Courtesy Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder, Vienna
