The new paintings series of Mauri Gross is like a spring’s waste – perennial and multi-layered, at times mouldy and dried, at others laced with green grass leaves, ready to burst out of the canvas with whimsical fireworks. The exhibition describes the relations between humans and their interlaced bonds with nature, raising the questions between climate issues and wildlife. The floral motifs convey the origination of people from nature, which is vividly summed up by the word “family tree”. This essence, as ‘kinship’ and ‘thicket’, is the visual theme of the exhibition. In the paintings, nature and flowers are merely apparent – the only direct reference to nature is that everything is in a state of change, movement and growth – even the rigidly rooted family tree. Such a journey and maze of thoughts is also supported by the technique of the exhibition works, where a classical painting is covered with expressionistic and flowy brushstrokes, and art nouveau floral motifs are interwoven like a quilt.
Mauri Gross (b. 1969 in Rapla, Estonia) expresses himself mostly in the oil painting medium. He received his art education at the Estonian Academy of Arts. He is a member of the Artists’ Union and has participated in solo and group exhibitions and various art projects since 1991. Mauri Gross’ artwork “Pööripäev” won the Audience Favourite award at the Spring Exhibition 2022.
ROHEPÖÖRE
Mauri Gross
22/09/2022 — 29/10/2022
Vaal Gallery
Tuesday–Friday 12pm–6pm, Saturday 12pm–4pm
Telliskivi 60A/5, Tallinn
Photography: Kelli Gedvil
