More than a decade from L’Atlas debut in Switzerland in 2007, Kolly Gallery is delighted to reunite with the artist and exhibit his work for the very first time in Zurich. The exhibition offers a variety of insights into L’Atlas’ oeuvre, reflecting on the artist’s everyday life while rediscovering his strong vocation for art. His humble perception of daily life becomes a statement of simplicity and a testimony to its power through his art.
Since the 1990s he has been practicing his self-expression on the streets and since the 2000s intensively developing his style as well in the studio as well. The artist found his nom de plume L’Atlas while traveling. In geography, the word „atlas“ is used as summary of diagrams and maps that depict the world in a two-dimensional space. Later in his life, he traveled to the Atlas region in Morocco, which again seemed to him to be the right name. Moreover, the artist associates his pseudonym Atlas with the strong and muscular Titan in Greek mythology who fought Zeus and the Olympians.
„The painter’s practice brings him to life as well as to soft death.“
L’Atlas, 2023.
L’Atlas unifies different artistic concepts and forms of expression, drawing from various sources. One of the most significant influences on his work is the tradition of ancient calligraphy. When looking at L’Atlas’ creations, the reference to Arabic script becomes immediately clear. The artist shows a particular fascination with Kufic script, which goes beyond textual transmission and embodies spiritual symbols and ornaments. Similar to the world of graffiti, where one’s name functions as both image and symbol – and vice versa – this duality takes on a high importance in L’Atlas’ process of exploration.
L’Atlas’ oeuvre is characterized by its exploration of optical art and the art of illusion. Although his compositions are deceptively simple and minimal, the predominant use of black and white and multiple layers give the works an intriguing visual complexity. A closer look at the works reveals that rough, organic brushstrokes and soft, sprayed-on gradients are juxtaposed with the clear lines that spell out the artist’s name. Ultimately, the cohesive artworks are difficult to break down into layers, which reinforces their complex expression.
The artworks of L’Atlas are distinguished by their minimalist aesthetic, wherein simplicity and clarity of form converge to create a striking visual impact. The reduction to the essential leads back to the spiritual expression of words as images, as expressed in the Kufic script. L’Atlas’ works inhabit the space with a unique aura, similar to the way spiritual symbols function. As Kandinsky observed, art has the potential to be more than just a representation of the physical world. It has the potential to tap into the deeper, more spiritual aspects of human experience to create art that is truly meaningful and transformative.
Tania Di Brita
Video
Opening Reception
Artworks
Av. de Beauregard 1
1700 Fribourg
Switzerland
Only on appointment
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