In the past, Matthias Kanter got his inspiration from ticket offices, roofed whicker beach chairs or even abstract phenomena like scents, which he used for his „Aroma“ series in 2009. Now he has turned to the historical paintings from the collection of the Staatliches Musem Schwerin, using them as initial spark for his new group of works.We are very pleased to show some of these new pictures, parallel to an exhibition of Kanter’s works in Schwerin (until July 4th). From July 10th onwards, these works will also be shown here at our gallery.Kanter’s work has been developing along the border between concreteness and abstraction for many years. The “visual content” however has always remained colour itself – major topics being how colours influence, harmonically complete or disharmoniously repel each other. Antoher focus has been on the way colour may create three-dimensionality, or, by contrast, emphasize the flatness of the image carrier.
Kanter has, as he puts it, an “overproportional” confidence in colour as a medium of communication. The evolvement of his work is driven by his aim, someday, “to paint anything, to be able to tell anything with a painting.” This also means for him to try to develop and put to use all the pictorial skills needed for this task.
As a reaction to his current sources of inspiration, Kanter’s newer image constructions are getting more complex. With a focus on composition and dynamics he is constantly adding new chapters to his painting inventory. This group of works, developed in dialogue with the collection of the Schwerin museum, represents an opportunity for Kanter to confront and revise his personal iconography.

Opening:             Saturday, June 19th 2010, 6-9 pm
Exhibition:            June 19th – July 24th 2010