Workshop of Balthasar Brennenstuhl at Saint Mandrier

After my years of fine arts studies in Paris in the 70s/80s and a first period of professional activity, I movved to Italy in 1990. In Piemonte and Sicily I have carried on my artistic researches for 27 years.

In 2016, I decided to return to France where I have opened my new workshop at the port of Saint Mandrier sur Mer near Toulon in Provence in 2016. Lien Bio.

During all those years I have aquainted various techniques, composition apporoaches and develppes a personal, recognizable language.

My artistik work inquires basically three sectors:

All united by the same concern to find a balance between a rigorous approach and a need to improvise. There are the rules of geometry, compositional approaches on one side and spontaneous inventiveness, improvisation on the other with their own criteria.

Paintings

A story of thousands of years tha has developped and revolutionned its canons continuously. As we know to have studies the history gives some hints how and where to look forward. But anyway my attention is not limited to the analysis of the past. Nowadays, more than ever, we have to concieve interdisciplinary considerations : nuclear physics, astrophysics, psycology, sociology, politics, climatology …

Mathematical references become important.

Paintings by Balthasar Brennenstuhl

When I paint I become a small brush, trying to remember the lessons and tricks of Giotto, Rembrant, Klee, Rothko, all the important brush–operators, spatula-owners, and other-wisely equipped canvassers.

See the Little Bang gallery

Relieves

Relieves by Balthasar Brennenstuhl

The insertion of objects and the modelling of the support open the »paintings » to the third dimension and enrich their material and tactile composition. The white canvas is replaced by a modelles support hanged with peaces of cotton canvas enhanced by a patina on bee-wax bases.

See the BD gallery

Sculptures / objects

Rahter than sculptures in an ethymological sense I would speak of assemblings of various materials and objects:

  • the metals : steel, iron, copper, brass ...
  • wood: eucalyptus, lemon tree, fruit trees, peaces of driftwood
  • polymeric resines, coatings, plaster ...
  • recycled objects

Sculptures and objects of Balthasar Brennenstuhl

When I'm welding iron I become an electrode, while brassing copper I turn into a blowlamp. Sculpting wood I feel like a woodbock, using resins I get hardened. Recycling objects I anti-waste. Plaster and polyurethane take care of the rest of the dust.

See the Platon gallery

Installations

Sculptures and various objects join together into a configuration in order to open a dialogue with the space to invade, to accompaign, to accentuate or to contrast.

See the Harp boats gallery

Harp-boats by Balthasar Brennenstuhl

In the News page you shall find news about my recent works and exhibitions as well as my last articles.