Oliver Heinrich

Saturday 18 May 2019

Kreigsmaschine !

Newspapers, tar, latex, varnish oil, pencil and marker on board

Framed symbolically

48" x 31" x 3/4"

Monday 7 November 2016

An Explanation

“Making Art is like having an honest conversation with

yourself which you have the courage to show to others.”

I was born in Berlin and obsessed with scribbling at an early age, to the point of ripping down the wallpaper in our apartment so that I could draw on the back. At school, in Toronto, I was always “that kid that could draw” and almost always in trouble for it. Scribbling over notebooks and drawing while I should have been studying was a source of constant anguish. Since that early age I have learned to define myself by the conflict that seems to exist between making Art and participating in society. The tension between having a rich inner life and feeling comfortable in ones surroundings has always been both a blessing and a curse. On the other hand I can only be thankful for the many friends and teachers who have aided and abetted my artistic pursuits. Any self-doubt and confusion ended with the absolute freedom that was given to Art students while attending York University. During my studies I came to understand I am playing my part alongside all those people that identify themselves as artists. After graduating, I have worked in mostly design related fields, some notable, however I have also always self initiated Art projects which were shown in a long line of exhibitions in places like Prague, Berlin and here in Toronto. I’m hoping that with persistence I can finally call myself a “professional Artist”, one who is finally socially accepted for my own ideas while not having to present design work for others.

This Art

About
Kriegsmaschine !

War, what is it good for?

This painting is much like the ancient art of alchemy where symbolic elements are mixed to form a completely different entity a life that seems to walk and breath on its own. Over the span of several months I gathered newspapers, and clippings that involved the horrible news which resonates our daily lives. Fires, earthquakes, war and worse threats to humanity were all layered thick and varnished on a blood red board, and left to fester. Other elements like latex and roofing tar were added and organically brought out the image in high contrast. Finally pencil, markers and a lot of old fashion oil and varnish were used to finish the machine.

This work took about 2 years to finish, there were times that I just didn't know what to do with it so I left it, but now that it's finished, I'm happy because I it's symbolically honest. It's not really a political work, instead the painting seemed to form itself from logical consequences. In a time when we humans should be coming together to clean up our own mess it seems that we are distracting ourselves and decapitating the institutions which we need to solve our problems.
What do we all really believe all this bad news about a shrinking future will add up to? Traditionally scarcity has lead to one thing, War.