Motu Christian Steyrl, (born May 20, 1973, Steyr, Austria) - Austrian
painter, draughtsman, sculptor, mechanical engineer and architect whose work
reflects a consideration of the expressive possibilities of mark making,
using different media and techniques.
Motu's work has been exhibited in shows in Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
In addition, his work is in private and corporate collections including the
"Collection Sanziany", one of the biggest private museums in Austria.
Following some early experiments in figurative realism, the artist began to
experiment with abstract and achromatic paintings on canvas and paper.
Motu then started to work figurative and abstract, both fields influencing
each other, often with collages and overpaintings. There were also
experiments with famous paintings such as "Las Meninas" by Velazques or
works by Piet Mondrian.
After that, the artist focuses almost exclusively on abstract works, which
are characterised by freely curls, loops and scribbles on monochrome fields
- the used colors are mostly black, off-white and primary colors, the
implementation often dichromatic or trichromatic.
His paintings often show shapes and irritations with oil paint, acrylic
paint, pencil, crayon, ballpoint pen, wax crayon and charcoal. The artist
also works with computers to create digital artwork, which is published in
editions.
A long term project is "Motu is Digging Your World" - where the artist is
digging holes in different places around the world. Among others he dug
holes on the famous "Monte Verità" in Ascona/Italy and on the Popocatépetl
in Mexico - at the height of 10.488 feet above sea level.
In his project "Motuland" the artist works with land - so far he has
purchased two properties, grassland and forest. The goal of the artist here
is to work with the properties and to transform the land itself into art.
The artist states everything he does is painting, it does not matter whether
painting with a brush, drawing on the computer, building an object or
digging a hole.
Images and text courtesy the artist
Images on view in gallery in order of appearance:
