"Why?" Painting

WOLF GROSS

Wolfgang Kurt Gross was born February 14, 1945 in Petzer-Aupa, an alpine town in the former Czechoslovakia where his mother and her family sought shelter from the approaching Russian troops.

Wolf developed an interest in art in his teens and managed to exhibit in some small galleries in Munich. But nothing further happened until he immigrated to Australia. There, in the 1980s and 90s, he became more prolific and sold a number of his drawings to mentors and friends. Wolf's art appeared in an article in the "West Australian" on February 26, 1993. One of his drawings, “Peter’s Paradise”, was published by Marmalade Press in their book, “Marmalade’s books of cats: Australian writing and art”.

Wolf realised that, much as he enjoyed painting, it did not sustain a living. Finally, after many years of running cafes, he sold his last business. Wolf retrained, using his artistic talents in web design. Over the next 10 years he created websites for clients around the world. About 10 years ago, he retired to spend more time travelling.

Wolf returned to Munich, his old hometown, where he renewed old friendships. He also discovered the Lenbachaus with its collection of paintings by Kandinsky and the “Blue Rider” group.

He realised then, what the Curator of the Art Gallery of West Australian once said to him after viewing some of his works, which were exhibited in a cafe: “Your cats are the best, but why don’t you let go!”

Subject matter plays a secondary role to colour; reality and fairy tale blend together. Abstract, non-representational compositions have inspired Wolf to start painting again and express his emotions, rather than reflect nature.