Grim and bear it

Some art soothe while others unsettle. Neo Rauch's figurative paintings belong to the latter category.

His solo exhibition, Field Signs, aims to present the sense of a sobering dream. "The paintings unfold a narrative and surreal logic," said Rauch. "My process is far less a reflection than it is drawing from the sediments of my past, which occurs in an almost trance-like state."

Bright colors and the displacement of elements are regular features in his works.

Human figures are portrayed with intense hues - a style reminiscent of propaganda posters, religious portraits, or illustrations from vintage Grimm fairytale books. The bizarre composition and distorted perspective cast an unsettling feeling.

This exhibition showcases the German artist's latest works, created last year. Most of the artworks are on sizable frames, which further intensifies the chilling sensation.

The titular artwork, Feldzeichen, depicts randomly placed objects referencing ancient Roman military terminology. Human figures in various sizes appear in the forground, silhouetted against flames in the green field.

"There's nothing cerebral here," said Rauch, describing his works as reflection of his dream - or a parallel universe.

"It only comes into view when the painting is in an advanced state of completion. That"s when I begin to reflect on the meaning of what I am making. I even deny myself sketching as I want to have the full adventure, the full risk of failure played out on the surface of the painting."

Despite this explanation, there are plenty to be read in his paintings. Also, considering that Rauch was born in 1960 in East Germany and witnessed the construction and fall of the Berlin Wall, one cannot help but see political metaphors.

In Trift, workers wield iron shovels, guided by a clown-like figure. And in Sonne, a woman reaches out to golden flames resembling the sun, while also tearing down the sky to reveal celestial bodies. His works seem more allegorical than a mere depiction.

Rauch said: "The painting should be meaningful but without intention."

He does not deny the influence of the political environment in his works, but said he has never intentionally imbued them with such meanings. Instead, he pursues a "dreamy authenticity. I absorb the mechanisms of my dreams, and try to simulate that logic while painting. But it is important to avoid the unambiguous because it all comes down to how each individual viewer interprets it in any case."

Just as he rejects looking for meaning of his works, he also does not like to be shoehorned into any specific style. His artistic style is often associated to surrealism but he does not agree with such categorization. "I just hope my painting can strike a balance to bring a kind of beauty, a concept which has not been prevalent for many years," he said.

Field Signs is showing at David Zwirner Gallery until February 24.

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