Joseph Egan / Colorcomb

October 9 to November 29, 2014

Reality and possibility: this pair of terms is of central importance for many discussions of aesthetics and art theory. All too great a reliance on reality squanders a valuable potential of artistic practice in favor of questionable duplication of the found and pre-existing. Is it not the very realm of possibility that is visualized by the great works of art and in which the great artists invested their mastery?

Reality versus possibility can be understood as a rich field of tension, with the position of the artist in any case bound to a practical construct of life and a reflective construct of ideas. Giving preference to possibility implies a renunciation of reality, without losing sight of such. Only slowly, step by step, the weightings are shifted. The individual accrues a new and different identity by way of the creative act of art. The forms, means and conditions in the field of art are defined by traditions and rules, by history and present context. It is a simplification to presume that the artist is free here to make whatever choice suits him. His disposition, his sensitivity, his temperament are subjected to a maelstrom of hard-fought oppositions. Succeeding at formulating a work of one’s own and ultimately a life’s work, thereby materializing the visible with unprecedented form and coherence, is a challenge and achievement in equal measure.

Joseph Egan, born in 1952 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, has been affiliated with our gallery for more than twenty years. The years abroad that ultimately led him to Switzerland and to the careful and serious testing and probing of his artistry will not be further addressed here. At any rate, an initial solo exhibition was held in our gallery in 1992. Colorcomb is meanwhile the ninth solo show, in retrospect part of a long shared path. The adventure of allowing artistic activity to unfold within the realm of possibility resulted in significant exhibitions at regular intervals, each constituting carefully composed occurrences.

The aforementioned process of transformation was certainly a lifelong theme for Joseph Egan. Decisiveness and certainty gradually set in and became established over the years in view of and by means of the works with which the artist constructed and continues to construct the sphere of his existence.

Yet his art is not an expression of biography and mindset, but rather the works are objects constructed with color and material and color as a material, objects that are released into the world by the artist in order to thus find their place and each fulfill their particular mysterious function. They are vessel and home to an intensity that seeks to find its way to the recipient. In so doing, the fact that they express palpable sympathy for audiences open to dialog and friendship should in no way be denied. This is a rare and authentic quality of these works. Let’s call it an intentional bridging concept and a characteristic that joins with many further characteristics to form a whole.

The important body of paintings on paper and canvas should not go unmentioned. These works – occasionally produced in expansive series, including while on travels and outside the studio – develop formal themes with spontaneous gestures, probing transparency and density and conveying the joy taken in painterly invention and freedom. An appropriately careful and precise framing emphasizes the eminence of this group of works.

Installation views

Installation view room 4

Installation view office room

Installation view room 1

Installation view room 2

Installation view room 3

Installation view room 4

Works

colorcomb (Nr. 84)
2014
24 x 18 x 2 cm
Oil paints on canvas

on Hydra (Nr. 31)
2014
45 x 36 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

on Hydra (Nr. 25)
2014
45 x 36 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

on Hydra (Nr. 31)
2014
45 x 36 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

on Hydra (Nr. 25)
2014
45 x 36 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

House of Bees
2014
29 x 24 x 2.5 cm
Oil paints on wood

colorcomb (Nr. 23)
2014
39 x 49 x 3 cm
Paper: 21 x 30 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

passion (after Rouault)
2014
48.5 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21
Oil paints on paper with framing

on Hydra (Nr. 39)
2014
30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper

on Hydra (Nr. 24)
2014
30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper

on Hydra (Nr. 14)
2014
30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper (left)

on Hydra (Nr. 46)
2014
30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper (right)

on Hydra (Nr. 23)
2014
30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper

on Hydra (Nr. 26)
2014
30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper

Sol LeWitt
Tilted Form with color ink washes superimposed
1987
Wall Drawing #524
water based acrylic

moments
2014
37.5 x 23 x 5 cm
Various paints and sand on wood

in wine (Nr. 2)
2013
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

in wine (Nr. 3)
2013
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

La Casa d’Api
2014
47 x 21 x 5 cm
painted wood and painted panel

colorcomb (Nr. 48)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 47)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 42)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 45)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

inner space
2013
100 x 50 x 2.5 cm
Oil paints on canvas

colorcomb (Nr. 49)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 37)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 46)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 33)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 34)
2014
49 x 39 x 3 cm
Paper: 30 x 21 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

Fire
2000
65 x 55.5 x 2.5 cm
Oil paints on wood

colorcomb (Nr. 81)
2014
30 x 24 x 2 cm
Oil paints on canvas

colorcomb (Nr. 60)
2014
28.5 x 22.5 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 21 x 14.5 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 61)
2014
28.5 x 22.5 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 21 x 14.5 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 62)
2014
28.5 x 22.5 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 21 x 14.5 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 63)
2014
28.5 x 22.5 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 21 x 14.5 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 86)
2014
40 x 30 x 1.5 cm
Oil paints on canvasboard

colorcomb (Nr. 64)
2014
29.5 x 38.5 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 21 x 30 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 65)
2014
29.5 x 38.5 x 2.5 cm
Paper: 21 x 30 cm
Oil paints on paper with framing

colorcomb (Nr. 85)
2014
40 x 30 x 1.5 cm
Oil paints on canvasboard

in addition
2014
73 x 60 x 2.5 cm
Various paints on canvas

pool
1992
90 x 70 x 3.5 cm
Oil paints and sand on wood with free elements

paintcote (Nr. 2)
2014
30 x 25 x 6 cm
Various paints on wood with free elements

paintcote (Nr. 7)
2014
30 x 24 x 4 cm
Various paints on wood

paintcote (Nr. 4)
2014
31 x 25 x 4 cm
Various paints on wood

paintcote (Nr. 1)
2014
30 x 25 x 6 cm
Various paints on wood with free elements

paintcote (Nr. 5)
2014
30 x 25 x 5 cm
Various paints on wood

paintcote (Nr. 3)
2014
31 x 25 x 5 cm
Various paints on wood

paintcote (Nr. 6)
2014
30 x 25 x 4 cm
Various paints on wood

on the radio
2014
73 x 60 x 2.5 cm
Various paints on canvas

ANNEMARIE
VERNA
GALLERY

Joseph Egan / Colorcomb

Installation views

Works

New

Exhibition

New publications

Exhibitions / Insight

ANNEMARIE VERNA GALLERY

Joseph Egan / Colorcomb

Installation views

Works

New

Exhibition

New publications

Exhibitions / Insight

ANNEMARIE
VERNA
GALLERY