“To the Limits of Human Understanding”

by Daniel Magyarossy

May 2001., Tokyo

exhibition review  _____________________________________________________________

“Schweigeformen”

Exhibition of selected works by Manfred Makra

April 2001., Austrian Embassy Gallery, Tokyo

 

 

If the heavenly world has ever been known to allow sparks of enlightenment to fall down upon earth in the form of mortal wisdom, then Makra's work is a window through which we may view our world in a different light. 

The Austrian Embassy Gallery in Tokyo recently played host to Makra, who is an Austrian painter born in Graz.  His recent showing of works at the gallery collectively entitled “Schweigeformen” – or “Mute Forms” – included brand new paintings specially created for the show, some more recent works, and a series of older works which has never been exhibited to the public.

Upon strolling the gallery it was immediately apparent that the collection of work spanned a career that has been developing for years.  There were Zen prints, a series of 6 prints in red and black pigment that was completed in 1983, however, now showing in Tokyo for the first time.  The series – entitled “Remembering of Wings” – calls to mind the human perseverance of a well known actor in Hungary Zoltan Latinovits who was quoted as saying, “I remember the joy of flying”, and optimistically finishing with, “and I believe my wings will grow again.”

This series also provided a subtle hint into the long-standing source of the artist’s inspiration.  When we compared this series with the later works, we realized that while the form, line and color of the artist has evolved, his intention has remained true.  For this reason, the exhibition’s title could have aptly been translated in a creative fashion to mean – “Mute-ations” – as well.

Makra's work is not intentionally didactic in nature.  His desire to produce art seems to stem largely from his self-professed devotion to the Arts.  Yet the spirit of wholeness which we find to be so prevalent in his work speaks loudly of his character as a human being.  Perhaps his art serves him as a tool through which he can explore the development of his own psycho-existential awareness. 

On adjoining walls of the gallery space we found the original series of paintings named “Bow and Arrow”.  This series comprised the beauty of mathematics, without the science.   These actually appeared to be imagined snapshots of cosmic events, the photographic dimensions of which are so vast as to be immeasurable.

Located on opposing walls was the series “Heaven and Earth”.  In another space, we were met with the show’s namesake, two paintings called “Mute Forms”.  Here we caught a glimpse of what occurs – in the emotional sense – when fecund creativity based thought (i.e., manifestation of the human soul) is confronted by the physical reality of the external environment.  This is very much akin to C.J. Jung’s prior work regarding the individuation process of the human psyche.

In these newer works, however, the subtle drama of interacting lines, shapes, and monochromatic fields of color exhibited before us combined smoothly to form a pictorial reality which evoked a compelling sense of wholeness.  This is evidence of the intertwined nature of the artist's private spiritual world, and those nearly universal unconscious thoughts which manifest themselves in his art in ungraspable ways.

But to simplistically label Makra's work as “geometric” in nature – as has been unfairly done in the past to numerous artists of his genre – would be a gross understatement.  In essence, his wholeness, both from within and without, is in part the result of the most skillful - and intrinsic - expression of the polarities which exist within us.  Though we may not be able to understand why, these polarities possess a self-determinant nature in their own right, which prompts them to align themselves in the most pleasing visual arrangements.  In doing so, they serve us as affirmative metaphors for the rational self-preservation instinct of our own species, especially so at a time when humanity in general is struggling to maintain balance.   

By achieving that rare quality most elusive to modern artists – balance – conscientious viewers of Makra’s world will find themselves confronted with many unanswered questions regarding their own level of existential understanding.  But through the affirmative visual messages we are presented with here by Makra, we are encouraged to push our levels of human understanding to even greater limits.

 

Manfred Makra is represented by www.artmark.at