SMALL IRRITATIONS
In Leipzig, Silvan Baer suspended a net portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach above the rooftops, while beneath the flight path of Zurich Airport he created the image of a thousand-franc banknote using 6,000 red flags. The Lucerne-based artist became internationally known through his remarkable land art projects. Yet he is equally masterful in smaller formats, where he plays with suggestion and visual transformation.
His recent paintings invite viewers into seemingly idyllic landscapes and everyday scenes. But neither autumn forests nor coffee gatherings are quite what they appear to be. Sometimes it is subtle details, sometimes the painting technique itself that unsettles familiar images. A chestnut forest in Ticino suddenly evokes China, while golden autumn days take on an unexpectedly unsettling atmosphere.
As the year draws to a close, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all visitors, friends, artists, and supporters for the many inspiring encounters and memorable moments shared at Galerie Vitrine throughout 2022. We would also like to thank our friends of the gallery around the world for the many thoughtful messages that continue to reach us.
We wish everyone a New Year filled with peace, joy, and good health.
Evelyne Walker and Team