Sandro Kopp in Vienna: A Close-Up

"An exploration of the subjective perspective that figurative painting offers us" is what awaits visitors to Sandro Kopp's new exhibition "Artist Statement - Intensive Care Units" in Vienna. The exceptional artist with German-New Zealand roots has brought along excerpts from no less than three groups of works, which will be shown in the "Friedrichshof Stadtraum" collection from 3rd of June. The selection is characteristic of the work of the Heidelberg-born artist. The spectrum ranges from self-portraits to sensitive studies created via zoom sessions.

Look me in the eyes
Art aficionados need no lengthy explanation of Kopp's work - the painter, born in 1978, is known for his figurative art, which seems to effortlessly manage to capture not only the anatomy but also the soul of the portrayed. This often requires only a deep look into the eyes of the subject. "Each eye is intended as a window for perceiving the special atmosphere of both the meeting and the connection with the person," he says about the series of eye portraits. The close-ups were taken in a variety of places around the world. From tea gardens in Bangladesh to Kopp's studio in Scotland - Kopp seized the moment and captured the eyes of his friends and family members on canvas in great detail. It is also worth taking a closer look: occasionally, the reflection in the pupil contains a tiny self-portrait.

Self-perception
Self-portrait is a good keyword here, because these are also shown as part of the exhibition. "The New Me III", is the name of the series in which Kopp portrays himself in front of the mirror for 28 days (one lunar month). "This is the third series in a larger body of work begun in 2007. Each painting is completed and left as it is when the next one is begun," the artist states.

Kopp in quarantine

Last but not least, there will be the Lockdown Zoom portraits to admire. They were created last year during video chat conversations. "The uncertainty of the pandemic made me feel that oil paintings would be too permanent at that moment," Kopp says of the choice of medium, "so I chose the easier route of small drawings." “In retrospect, they perhaps convey hope that this difficult time will eventually fade, just like the colours depicting this moment,” he continues.