From Stella Rosa McDonald…
After condemning modern art as “feminine” and finding too much fault with his detractors, 19th century German composer Wagner denounced the name of opera and instead adopted the title of “Dramas” for his librettos and scores. The first of these was to be the epic Ring Cycle (Der Ring des Nibelungen) a drama in four parts that centres on a powerful gold ring that is stolen from its maker by the protagonist Wotan. Wotan’s epic struggle to keep possession of the ring has been re-imagined in a series of paintings by emerging artist Samuel Quinteros in the shopping malls, streets and homes of a futuristic Japan. The exhibition’s title is taken from first line of the libretto, a battle cry that translates as Wotan, awake!
Quinteros’ paintings are compositionally informed by the episodic style of Japanese ukiyo-e prints and are the first in an ambitious and sophisticated series of visual interpretations of Wagner’s drama that the artist has rendered as a narrative account of the struggle for individuation. Quinteros’ saturated palette, soft focus style and the casting of Japanese schoolgirls in the roles of Wagner’s gods and villains, give the paintings an erotic and malevolent charge whilst remaining true to the allegorical core of the original work.
Until July 20th
Galerie pompom, Chippendale
Pic: Installation view. Left: Samuel Quinteros, Hier sitz’ ich zur Wacht (Here I sit on watch), 2014, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 61 cm. Right: Samuel Quinteros, Schwurwissender Eideshort / Nachthüter (Oath-witness and lord of vows / Guardian of night), 2014, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 61 cm. Photo: docQment
