echoes of silence - manfred makra

We would like to invite you to the solo exhibition of Manfred Makra, an Austrian artist who works with the theme of silence and the transcription of this state into a visual language. He often conceives his works in connection with a specific architectural space /Anrakuji Temple, Kyoto, Japan, Mies van de Rohe‘s Barcelona Pavilion, Spain.../.

His project for the Závodný Gallery is linked to the selection of works by Czech and European authors who have also touched on the minimization. Their work can be connected with a certain contemplation or silence. These artists have previously collaborated with the gallery and had the opportunity to present own artworks through their solo exhibitions.

Gallery Závodný has long pursued the intertwining of urban projects and artistic creation, and is aware of the mutual relationships and possibilities that this connection offers to users and creators themselves.

The theme of silence and contemplation was inspired by a statement by Tadao Ando, the excellent Japanese architect: „I don‘t believe that architecture has to speak too much. It should remain silent and let nature in the guise of sunlight and wind.“

The exhibition should be a paraphrase of this idea. What is essential and important can be seen from time to time only at the second glance. Without the opportunity to have time and tranquility for own experience, the substance of the thing itself can remain hidden.

Manfred Makra has built a strong bond with Japan, its culture, traditions, poetry, architecture, dining... If we perceive loneliness, silence and stillness in his paintings, they are almost exclusively states devoid of negative connotationsm towards nihilism or cynicism, rather resembling Zen contemplation. The European tradition and way of thinking are inscribed into the author‘s work through the selection of expressive means of painting, based on geometric abstraction. Manfred Makra uses these means very freely and freely combines them with a color spectrum.

Pairs or larger series of works are created very often. However, individual pieces can be easily removed from the cycle and presented separately. They are not tied up strongly by a systematic order or sequence, where the removal of one work would make understanding the whole meaning diffi cult or impossible. Series are mostly based on works focused on individual themes selected by the author.

The latest serie, called Ambient, leans towards minimalism more than all the previous ones. Pure white paint is not applied to canvas but directly onto aluminum plates, which overlap at two height levels at a certain moment. In between the two surfaces arises a new space, the top plate also casts a shadow. The width of the strip, which the shadow clearly outlines, depends on the angle of the day light. The bottom plate has a strong color accent on one of its shorter vertical sides. The entire relief resembles an open book. The pages are empty, we rather read its clearly defined format with a color accent, feel the importance of the empty space in between and its connections to surroundings.

Manfred Makra was born in Graz /1956/, but lives and works in Vienna. He frequently travels and participates in exhibition projects abroad.