The Art of Paul McCartney
Most of the approx. 70 paintings on show are autonomous
pictures with a strong emphasis on material and composition, some
of them with autobiographical leanings. McCartney's painting is
situated somewhere between the two poles of objective realism and
gestural expression. Alongside almost abstract compositions, in
which the artist demonstrates physical pleasure in the precise
application of the material „paint“, the central theme
of his oeuvre takes the form of „facial pictures“ and
landscapes. 
„Facial
pictures“ can be expressive portraits, double or group
portraits, but also masks or biting caricatures, sometimes with
references to his own biography. These are offset by
„landscapes“, expressions of colour reminiscent of body
shapes or head shapes, or even dream landscapes, especially in
the presence of Celtic motifs or symbols. In his pictures,
McCartney - who is an admirer not only of de Kooning but also of
René Magritte - brings together expressive and surreal elements
in a synthesis determined by colour processes: the material
qualities of the paint and accidental marks on the canvas are
taken up and incorporated - often with great emotional power -
into well-balanced compositions.
„One thing I have learned, is that the
more precise you try to be about a thing, somehow the less you
achieve. You can go too wooden, you can lose the spirit of the
thing. Just for instance the eye on that boxer, to just put three
lines like that will actually do a better job than really
figuratively working that in and doing the eyelashes and putting
a little eyeball in. Somehow they seem to awaken echoes, those
little half-glimpsed moments.“ (Paul
McCartney in Interview about 'Big mountain face')
„Paul McCartney brings to painting the same humour, enthusiasm and enjoyment that is present in his music.“ (Barry Miles)
PAUL McCARTNEY paintings
, Kunstforum Lÿz, Siegen, 1. Mai bis 25. Juli 1999
Konzeption & Organisation der Ausstellung: Kultur!Büro.
Kreis Siegen-Wittgenstein
Paintings © Paul McCartney. Photographs of the artist © Estate
of Linda McCartney
[Kreis Siegen-Wittgenstein Home] [Kultur!Büro] [Kulturpur Home]
[Mailto:info@siwikultur.de]