The oversized faces in Freiwald's works are shown with few soft shadows and pale facial features.
Born in Lima, Peru, 1963
From 1985 to 1991, Till Freiwald studied at the Kunstakademie Karlsruhe.
In Till Freiwald's works, human existence can be described in many ways. But only feelings and passions can determine this existence. It is a driving force in all areas of innovation and discovery. Different kinds of disciplines and sciences have tried to retain or declare these feelings. In the last century, many great masters illustrated human feelings in their portraits. The Dutch master Rembrandt said that "a portrait is nothing without atmosphere". But what is this "atmosphere" and how can it be represented in a portrait?
The answer to these questions lies in the more oversized depictions of the human face in Till Freiwald's watercolours. They invite us to capture the aura and mood of the protagonists of the image. In his third solo exhibition at the Voss Gallery, the Peruvian-born artist showed his new series of works, entitled "Memory". These works focus on frontal and profile portraits, without any special details of emotion. The oversized faces in Freiwald's works are shown with few soft shadows and pale facial features. The shiny skin of the face acts almost as an independent animated form. The coincidence of the almost monumental acting head with the rudimentary representation of the neck and shoulder area first strikes the viewer. The result is an artificial naturalness and a vital physicality. On closer inspection, one can fall into the calm of the still faces. The universe of the human being begins to become perceptible. Deep concentration and emotional depth unfolds. This visibility is achieved by the direct relationship between the artist and his model. The encounter of model and artist allows the viewer to recognise the truth and relevance of an individual type in a very unique way.