Austria
Austrian Chancellor Klima and GARTEL at the Editions of Art Fair, Innsbruck.
GARTEL 20 Years of DIGITAL ART - 1998
In 1997 I was invited to participate in the Editions of Art Fair in Innsbruck, Austria. That year they were honoring Austria's most important painter of the last century Friedensreich Hundertwasser. His unique painting techniques and philosophy changed the way Austria looked at abstract art as well as the view point and approaches to modern painting. His work often compared to the architect Antoni Gaudi, his work was reminiscent of Gustave Klimt. Hundertwasser was someone that I admired for years as his work touched all sorts of forms, from clothing to postage stamps. Hundertwasser was not afraid to experiment. For thirty years I had his book which was authored by Pierre Restany. In many ways, my approach to art is similar to Hundertwasser. While I don't do performance art of sorts, my visual projections at nightclubs is a kindred approach.
In 1998 I was told by the Editions of Art directors and organizers that they would like to honor me for my Lifetime Achievement in establishing Computer Art as a major art form. I was duly humbled by this circumstance. My dealer Wolfgang Lieser of Galerie Der Gegenwart from Germany, in cooperation with the Fair organized a special one person exhibition. Editions of Art Fair (now called Art Innsbruck) directors Alois Larch and Johanna Penz could not have been nicer! What pleasant people and super to work with. The exhibit itself was truly on the edge for many people, even though we were celebrating my history, 20 years later. In attendance was the Chancellor of Austria Viktor Klima who discussed my art with me and had a great fondness for ingenuity. While appreciating the old traditional creations, Klima welcomed the advancement of art and its ramifications towards the betterment of society.
The exhibition garnered a great deal of notoriety and press. The rest of the world plays catch up in many instances with the latest tools. But it is fascinating to see early examples of Computer Art because they look so different than what is created today. - Smooth, homogenized and post modern. It is a "one trick pony," while waiting for the next software package to come out. Back in the early days it was the artist who had to be inventive and approach the medium from a personal point of view. One need only to ask an early pioneer what it took to make a picture. Certainly it was not "plug and play." There is the enveloped difference: It all looks very much the same these days.
The artist's hand and eye, must come forth always in an individualistic point of view, and stylistic manner. Otherwise, we are just making a sea of duplicates. It seems to be the case these days. I guess everyone wants to have fun. - "No pain / no gain."
Laurence Gartel
Boca Raton, Florida
September 3, 2008
Editions of Art Catalog, Austria
Special Dedication Page to GARTEL
In 1997 I was invited to participate in the Editions of Art Fair in Innsbruck, Austria. That year they were honoring Austria's most important painter of the last century Friedensreich Hundertwasser. His unique painting techniques and philosophy changed the way Austria looked at abstract art as well as the view point and approaches to modern painting. His work often compared to the architect Antoni Gaudi, his work was reminiscent of Gustave Klimt. Hundertwasser was someone that I admired for years as his work touched all sorts of forms, from clothing to postage stamps. Hundertwasser was not afraid to experiment. For thirty years I had his book which was authored by Pierre Restany. In many ways, my approach to art is similar to Hundertwasser. While I don't do performance art of sorts, my visual projections at nightclubs is a kindred approach.
In 1998 I was told by the Editions of Art directors and organizers that they would like to honor me for my Lifetime Achievement in establishing Computer Art as a major art form. I was duly humbled by this circumstance. My dealer Wolfgang Lieser of Galerie Der Gegenwart from Germany, in cooperation with the Fair organized a special one person exhibition. Editions of Art Fair (now called Art Innsbruck) directors Alois Larch and Johanna Penz could not have been nicer! What pleasant people and super to work with. The exhibit itself was truly on the edge for many people, even though we were celebrating my history, 20 years later. In attendance was the Chancellor of Austria Viktor Klima who discussed my art with me and had a great fondness for ingenuity. While appreciating the old traditional creations, Klima welcomed the advancement of art and its ramifications towards the betterment of society.
The exhibition garnered a great deal of notoriety and press. The rest of the world plays catch up in many instances with the latest tools. But it is fascinating to see early examples of Computer Art because they look so different than what is created today. - Smooth, homogenized and post modern. It is a "one trick pony," while waiting for the next software package to come out. Back in the early days it was the artist who had to be inventive and approach the medium from a personal point of view. One need only to ask an early pioneer what it took to make a picture. Certainly it was not "plug and play." There is the enveloped difference: It all looks very much the same these days.
The artist's hand and eye, must come forth always in an individualistic point of view, and stylistic manner. Otherwise, we are just making a sea of duplicates. It seems to be the case these days. I guess everyone wants to have fun. - "No pain / no gain."
Laurence Gartel
Boca Raton, Florida
September 3, 2008
Editions of Art Catalog, Austria
Special Dedication Page to GARTEL