A well-known motif of this art genus is flowers in different variations. Flowers in a vase were depicted by important artists such as Van Gogh or Hans Memling. In the fine arts, wilted flowers are considered to be the most common vanitas attributes, along with skulls, extinguishing candles and hourglasses.
Regarding this traditional representation genus Rtue posed himself the important questions: „Are wilted flowers still beautiful or are they already dead to a person? What is beauty, and is it the same for everyone?“
„ This is a story about what beauty is, and is it the same for everyone?“
Pavel Rtue, 2020.
These questions fueled the inspiration and concept for his recent series. Each canvas includes a representation of a dry flower or flower bouquet. These motifs are extended, supplemented or superimposed by geometrical as well as organic colour fields. Furthermore, abstract gestures, textures, clouds and spots of brushes as well as spray cans are recognizable. The artist mostly used calm and attuned colour combinations in order to add a certain softness and atmosphere to the paintings.
In Rtue’s paintings there is only a fine line between abstraction and figuration. The artist tries to dissolve and blur the line between the two contrasting poles, in order to bring its metaphysical effect to bear.
The viewer is allowed to plunge into the composition and find an answer above questions for themself. And maybe eventually they find their own new meanings.
Tania di Brita
Artworks
Rautistrasse 11
8047 Zurich
Switzerland
Only on appointment
T +41 79 301 11 37