• By Alexandra Flieth
The second show of the year at the U7 Gallery has an international character. Under the motto-“California meets Frankfurt” are the works of German artist Viktor Erhardt and the American Jeff del Nero to be seen. For the artist born in San Francisco, it is his first show in Europe. In his home, the artist is known for his neo-realistic works. His work can be seen in the 1999 Arizona bi-annual Museum of Art in Tucson. Viktor Erhardt comes out of Karlsruhe, his technique is a mixture of oil and lacquer.
When and Where…Enkheim.
The gallery is staying true to its concept that they are giving young artists a chance to show with established artists. A lonely surfer on the beach. The stormy clouds in the sky turning on top of him. Only a strip of sky is visible. It is unsettling almost a threatening atmosphere that California born Jeff del Nero presents. Around 20 of his pictures under the motto “California meets Frankfurt” can now be viewed in the Gallery U7 in Enkheim. For him, it is the first show in Europe. His works are in many private collections in the United States. Some of his work will be shown in the Tucson Museum of Art in Arizona where he lives and works.
We have stayed true to our original concept and present the established along with the unestablished artists says gallery owner Jorg Seeman. So besides the American, we will be showing 10 pictures from the 24-year-old Viktor Erhardt who is studying at the art school in Karlsruhe. His work holds figurative and graphic elements.
In the soul of mankind, there is chaos, through outside influences, like laws, people are put into lanes that steer them in directions says, Erhardt. In his work, he mirrors this direction using strong lines that he, for example, uses over a woman without a face. With this, the impression is given of her being imprisoned in a net.
The colors, that he uses for the female body is in contrast to the lines and the background. For the above mentioned the young artist uses pop acrylic colors like orange, yellow and black with a contrasting background. So is a woman in different brown tones in oil drawn that he combines with red and white. This is an expression the artist uses to show the chaos in mankind.
Jeff del Nero, who grew up in California, gives things a second meaning. It is left up to the viewer to view things as they are or to go with the artist on a discovery tour to see the things behind the things. The works of Jeff del Nero are all in oil. He tries with things like balls, bridges, people, cities and also tools to give them a second meaning. “Tools I tie in with mankind because they are used from your being,” also they remind him of the work his father did as a mechanic. Tools are also a symbol that can stand for any finished job. Not only the objects but also the color have a symbolic character. Gold, silver or bronzes that he sometimes uses as a background are an expression a not reachable but spiritual plain.
One special motif that he uses on one of his large-scale paintings is a toilet they are a symbol of our mass-producing, throw-away society. The toilet is a symbol of progress, a symbol of “by-gone” days. Through this representation, the artist symbolizes the present with hundreds of years gone by. The viewer is given the option of seeing what is actually shown, or as the artist, view what is deeper in the art.
This is shown very nicely on an oversized toilet bowl with a background of gold. At first, the painting gives the feeling of something out of the Middle Ages, which is achieved through the background effect. Jeff del Nero’s choice of a toilet bowl as a symbol of progress spans hundreds of years in this piece.
His technical ability with his color choice he has over the years created an impressive collection, which the viewer is always drawn to and will always recognize again. The mix of the art themes is broad and is built on the use of man, animals, tools and classic elements that cover many areas but are somehow always tied together.
The classical oil is his median of choice for Jeff del Nero. Through the mixing of this medium, he can achieve the overall desired effect. He has also tried other mediums, which includes works on paper and woodworking.
Jeff del Nero has great success with the background and foreground building worlds. At first, there seems to be no room for interpretation and yet because of the many views interpretation is possible.
