German painter Florian Krewer borrows figures and poses from photography and his everyday life in the city, yet removes all identifying markers of space and character, leaving only figures engaged in mysterious gestures that appear to float within abstract space. Animals, including birds, tigers, and bears, serve as avatars for the desires and subconscious thoughts of the men. In this 2019 painting, a person in a white track suit leaps into the air with his legs tucked beneath him. Krewer paints his characters with minimal details, and here the human head is replaced with a bird’s head. Krewer fills the background with a fluttering of night hues and lilac brushstrokes. Krewer studied art at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf where he was a student of Peter Doig, and currently lives in the Bronx.
Florian Krewer
UNTITLED
oil on paper
2019
20 3/4 x 15 3/4 inches