JOHN KOLLIG ARTIST STATEMENT 2.13.07

My paintings and drawings are about the “imago mundi”, a world view where our perceptions and conditions in life provide the scaffolding for our involvement in life.

Over the years, I have painted a series of paintings such as Sphereworks (abstraction/architectonic), Cirque(abstraction,circus of life,playfull), Freedom Series(abstraction,color,freedom from limitation) Knights Templar(abstract/architectonic, east meets west, esoteric) etc. and they all have different themes but urge us all to awaken to our potential and authenticity in life. It’s very much Joseph Campbell with his “being alive in life, rather than finding the meaning of life”. Each series of paintings have their own artist statement particular to those images.

In my latest series, Knights Templar Tarot series, we have three knights who follow the Parzival legend….embarking on the journey of life. Different stations in life are arrived at exemplified by the tarot, such as the Lovers. The Lovers card in the upper left of the painting is of two men. It is about taking a pledge. In the image Parzival, the knight is ready and has encodings, maps, and trajectory markings readying him for the journey.

Some series require large scale paintings such as The Quest from Knights Templar which is 15’ width comprised of three panels. Others require same size such as the Freedom series, 24 canvases all 30 X 40. Sphereworks has 8 X 10 to 4’ X 8’. The approach and process to each series is based on intuition….where to go next. I shy away from formula.  Paint quality and application challenge all painters. I relish always in taking the risk.

For the viewer seeing my work, I hope  that they feel more hopeful, aware, encouraged and will say yes to a refreshed world view.