DAVID OSTROWSKI

David Ostrowski produces large abstract canvases in manic moments of artistic instinct. He believes that the medium of painting has a relentless life cycle, and by bringing painting into conversation with contemporary artistic practice, he challenges the powerful role that technology plays in current artistic trends. Ostrowski studied painting at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf under Albert Oehlen, who siginificantly influenced the young artist and prompted him to explore Abstract art in depth. A serious fire at Ostrowski’s studio in 2005 gave the artist a new perspective on how to approach his work, by revealing the power that chance plays in producing art. This ideology persists in his practice and allows him to explore the boundaries of painting in its production and perception. To achieve artworks that are formed as a result of chance, many of Ostrowski’s techniques involve speed of application, incorporating spray paint and fast-drying lacquers. The process builds up multiple layers on the canvas as the artist repeatedly paints over certain parts of each composition. Speed, immediacy and impulse are integral to the editing process as they drive him to make quick decisions. Paint is not the only mediun that Ostrowski incorporates into his large artworks: found objects from his studio such as newspaper, scraps of wood and bits of dirt are glued to the canvas, creating a sense of depth, texture and a sculptural element to the composition. The accumulation of layers exemplifies how each canvas is constantly subject to consideration and revision. The installation and presentation of artworks is an equally important factor in the production process for Ostrowski. He rejects conventional gallery-hangs – exhibiting works on the wall at eye level. Instead, Ostrowski hangs his canvases from the ceiling in the middle of the gallery space, sometimes hanging works back-to-back.