On 3rd and 4th December 2005, I will be staging a show of older and newer paintings at the arts centre Zwicky. The show with which I mean to celebrate my 70th birthday will run under the heading OPT-ART (art that radiates optimism).
During my more than thirty year career as an architect and after the completion of numerous courses in drawing, graphic arts and airbrush, I have steadily perfected my handling of proportions, colours and materials. Upon starting on a new picture, I try to focus my ideas. My hand, however, is guided by improvisation, additions, corrections and surprises occurring while mixing and applying paint. During the long process of technically and meticulously perfecting a composition, I not only have the time to think about my work and its possible impact, but also to generally reflect on issues concerning art. I presently perceive myself as working in a confused and chaotic art scene dominated by sensation seeking artists fond of scandal, who attract attention by way of provocative and brutal works. By contrast, I try to create works that emanate optimism and provide joy.
With each work I have a personal and critical relationship. Each has an individual aura that, depending on a given context, lighting conditions and personal mood, is either clearly discernible or difficult to define. I refrain from including any mystic, pseudo-philosophical or depth-psychological ingredients – but leave it up to the viewer to read them into my work. However, regardless of whether one believes in it or not, the colours, forms and characters in my work carry symbolic meaning: blue, for instance, is the colour of the divine, of fidelity, purity; red is the colour of fire, love, warmth and green the colour of hope and renewal – at first glance all positive qualities. And yet, also negative symbolic content is attributed to every colour: in German "to be blue" means to be drunk; red indicates destruction, war and hate; green stands for poison. Food for thought may thus be conveyed subtly rather than by force.
Despite cherishing a varied artistic expression, the nature of my work lies in a clearly discernible personal style. In my compositions, I usually dispense with the traditional focal point. Subjects and motifs point beyond the borders of the painting and intend to encourage the viewer to imagine their continuation outside the frame. I hope that my love of music, jazz in particular, is reflected in the almost audible compositional rhythm, in the dynamics of my works. Handwritten texts, foreign characters, calligraphy and stamps indicate my admiration for other cultures and contribute to the pictorial message.
The renovated Zwicky factory, a space of almost 900 m2 with a wonderful natural lighting, is the arts centre of my commune. Here I have participated in a number of events or even organised them myself. A place and surroundings in which my pictures will be presented to great advantage.
Nik Streiff
July 2005
Born in Zurich on 3rd February 1935
1956-62 architectural studies at the Swiss Federal institute of Technology (ETH)
1963-90 active as architect in Switzerland and abroad
From 1992 onwards first exhibitions as a painter
2001 large one-person show in Singapore
2004 artistic residence in the Tessin. Frequent trips to different parts of the world
During my more than thirty year career as an architect and after the completion of numerous courses in drawing, graphic arts and airbrush, I have steadily perfected my handling of proportions, colours and materials. Upon starting on a new picture, I try to focus my ideas. My hand, however, is guided by improvisation, additions, corrections and surprises occurring while mixing and applying paint. During the long process of technically and meticulously perfecting a composition, I not only have the time to think about my work and its possible impact, but also to generally reflect on issues concerning art. I presently perceive myself as working in a confused and chaotic art scene dominated by sensation seeking artists fond of scandal, who attract attention by way of provocative and brutal works. By contrast, I try to create works that emanate optimism and provide joy.
With each work I have a personal and critical relationship. Each has an individual aura that, depending on a given context, lighting conditions and personal mood, is either clearly discernible or difficult to define. I refrain from including any mystic, pseudo-philosophical or depth-psychological ingredients – but leave it up to the viewer to read them into my work. However, regardless of whether one believes in it or not, the colours, forms and characters in my work carry symbolic meaning: blue, for instance, is the colour of the divine, of fidelity, purity; red is the colour of fire, love, warmth and green the colour of hope and renewal – at first glance all positive qualities. And yet, also negative symbolic content is attributed to every colour: in German "to be blue" means to be drunk; red indicates destruction, war and hate; green stands for poison. Food for thought may thus be conveyed subtly rather than by force.
Despite cherishing a varied artistic expression, the nature of my work lies in a clearly discernible personal style. In my compositions, I usually dispense with the traditional focal point. Subjects and motifs point beyond the borders of the painting and intend to encourage the viewer to imagine their continuation outside the frame. I hope that my love of music, jazz in particular, is reflected in the almost audible compositional rhythm, in the dynamics of my works. Handwritten texts, foreign characters, calligraphy and stamps indicate my admiration for other cultures and contribute to the pictorial message.
The renovated Zwicky factory, a space of almost 900 m2 with a wonderful natural lighting, is the arts centre of my commune. Here I have participated in a number of events or even organised them myself. A place and surroundings in which my pictures will be presented to great advantage.
Nik Streiff
July 2005
Born in Zurich on 3rd February 1935
1956-62 architectural studies at the Swiss Federal institute of Technology (ETH)
1963-90 active as architect in Switzerland and abroad
From 1992 onwards first exhibitions as a painter
2001 large one-person show in Singapore
2004 artistic residence in the Tessin. Frequent trips to different parts of the world
