The German painter Dietmar Brixy has developed his own, unique visual language. His expressive compositions are determined by lively colours, which he applies onto the canvas with brushes, spatulas, combs, and bare hands in a process that varies between meditative calm and lively dynamics. Like a curtain, ornamental silhouettes reveal an elegant, shimmering center in which fantastical landscapes capture the viewer’s gaze. The artist finds his inspiration in nature, be it in his empyrean garden in Mannheim or in distant lands of the world. With this, his pictures are symbols of the cycle of growth and decay in nature. They illustrate the eternal movement and constant change of life, but also the diversity within the world and the multiplicity of cultures and identities that together flow in a harmonious collage. As such, Brixy’s works are also an invitation for the viewer to engage with the world as a place of encounter, openness, and togetherness. With this, the exhibition ties in with the motto of this year’s Biennale Arte “Foreigners everywhere” and at the same time refers to Marco Polo’s 700th death anniversary this year. The Venetian world traveler once wrote down his memories in “Il Milione”, also known as “The Description of the World”. Like Marco Polo, Dietmar Brixy sets the viewer on a journey towards distant, unknown worlds full of wonders, the exploration of which always requires the exploration of one’s own self.

Photo Credits: AAP (Sebastian Steinhäußer)