Nr. 81, Holcim Münchenstein Painting

BUILDINGS – they are defining more and more frequently the landscapes in the suburbs, individual constructions as monoliths, massive functional buildings, warehouses, silos, industrial chimneys – we see them looming in the sky from fareway or carelessly we pass by their solid facades. Thereby we perceive these constructions often as disturbing or even ugly. But Stefan Auf der Maur is watching out exactly for these individual buildings, which stand big and apparently misplaced in the landscape. He is finding his motifs mostly in the near surrounding of Basel by ranging the region with his bicycle. Once he found the right construction and spot, he paints directly at the place with brush and easel – in the old manner. These paintings are fascinating through a subtle tension. On the one hand, the urban or industrial themes are staying in strong contrast with the pronounced picturesque or even nostalgic treatment of the canvas, on the other hand, the viewer is additionally challenged by the unpretentiousness of format and presentation. Stefan Auf der Maur plays with colour, shadow and light. He is breaking off structures and is merging buildings and landscapes and allows herewith new points of view.