Following the exhibitions by Sheila Hicks and Ernst Caramelle, Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie
Schwarzwälder is now presenting Herbert Brandl’s show “Oh Manitu” in the new gallery space at
Domgasse 6. On view will be a series of new works revolving around the theme of trees. Shown
individually in the center of each picture, Brandl’s trees are presented almost as if they were portraits
of individual personalities. The trees come in a variety of styles. Some are rendered in strong,
expressive brushstrokes, standing in front of an impasto black background and conveying a diffuse,
sinister atmosphere, while others show delicately placed colors interacting with dominant, white empty
spaces to generate a pictorial effect that seems to refer to far Eastern aesthetics. For these latter
works, in place of a traditional painterly method, Brandl has employed a new technique in which he
essentially creates canvas prints using another canvas covered in acrylic paint. In other words, the
artist draws on the principle of the monotype – a technique that has remained a constant factor in his
work since 2009.