Renowned Austrian contemporary painter Christian Ludwig Attersee is celebrating his 85th birthday with a spectacular anniversary exhibition at Galerie Schloss Parz in Grieskirchen, Upper Austria. The provocative artist, known for his explosive painted poetry created with brush and verse, is presenting a stunning late-career body of work that showcases his continued vitality and artistic prowess.
The anniversary exhibition, titled "Spiel mit der Erde" (Playing with the Earth), features approximately 85 previously unseen paintings, all created within the past two years. These fresh works from the artist's studio demonstrate his undiminished creative energy, with pieces that bubble, storm, and swirl with characteristic intensity. Despite his advanced age, Attersee continues to paint daily, maintaining the rigorous practice that has defined his decades-long career.
Attersee stands as one of Austria's most prominent contemporary painters, but his talents extend far beyond the canvas. He is simultaneously a musician, writer, stage designer, and sailor – a true Renaissance figure who embodies the concept of the total artwork. Throughout his career, he has worked across multiple mediums and scales, creating everything from ecstatic painted poems on large and small canvases to commercial designs for wine bottle labels and sausage packaging.
As a pioneer and representative of European Pop Art, Attersee has consistently blurred the boundaries between life, art, and commerce, transforming himself into a living artwork. His approach involves creating sophisticated plays with contrasts using his signature color palette to celebrate life in all its forms. His motifs embrace eroticism, mythology, and adventurous spirit, while his figures often provoke with activist poses and pay homage to worldly passions.
The artist's paintings function like operas without music, combining visual elements with narrative depth. However, Attersee's work goes beyond mere aesthetic pleasure – some of his representations challenge viewers to reflect deeper. His late works remain firmly rooted in contemporary reality and aim to contribute to our understanding of the current era, addressing themes relevant to modern society.
The exhibition demonstrates that this old master is far from slowing down. At 85, Attersee continues to flex his artistic muscles, proving that age has not diminished his ability to create compelling, thought-provoking art. The show runs until December 7th at Galerie Schloss Parz, offering visitors a rare opportunity to witness the continued evolution of one of Austria's most significant living artists.
