Flowing into each other, the waves move forward on the beach in a fading impulsion, ending up in thin puddles with a few small bubbles – reminiscences of white frothed crests. Over and over, the movement is repeated up until the moment of hesitation. The power of the waves decreases, the formations in the sand alter, the currents and opposing tensions struggle: the tide turns. That precise moment, the passage between high tide and low tide – or the reverse – marks a pause, an in-between, followed by an interval with no tide, no impulsion. At first the vision is turbulence, calm follows.

Allusions to the sea and its changing formations, water, sky and light remain constants in the works of Bent Holstein. 2001, year of the exhibition TIDELINES, inspired by a trip to the Key West archipelago of Florida, marked a turning point in his painting up until then figurative with realist tendencies. Fine connoisseur of and enamoured with nature, Bent Holstein’s work expresses both his vision of and his feelings in front of this “grand spectacle”. During frequent voyages to far away, exotic landscapes he contemplates, absorbs, records in order to then express and render an amalgamation, an accumulation of experience, of impressions and memories. Painting thus, like a musician plays by ear. The result is a universe tending to the abstract, expressive with lyricism and discreetly symbolist. Bustling or infinitely calm, his images possess a dynamic tension reflecting that of landscapes, which fluctuate in our perception of them because of their permanent changes, be they minimal. The palette of colours is rich: the artist sometimes uses pastels from the pearly spectrum – potentially kitsch – yet justified for the subjects treated and the highly balanced application. The use of grave and dramatic tones dominates some works; whilst in others a bombardment of inflamed light radiates from an orange variation. Created throughout the ensemble is a feeling of plenitude.

Matter is rich and dense almost without relief: oil paints, pigments, graphite and dry marble powder are brought to and removed repeatedly. Forms are fluid, vaporous and enveloping, however occasionally some more insistent lines punctuate the moving masses suggesting landscape structures. Recent chalk drawings introduce a new vision – a kind of ‘negative’ of canvas works. Here, monochrome strokes define the contours of the landscape; the reserve paper left empty represents the equivalent of elements and forms treated in Bent Holstein’s paintings. This paper work follows a long practice of graphics (lithography, prints and posters) which has also given rise to diptych’s made up of landscape photographs and chalk drawings in vertical superposition. A long distance vision meets with a close-up vision – a new way for Bent Holstein to express his desire to encompass and render perceptible his fascination, his emotion in front the infinitely small and the immense.

turn of the tide will be the third exhibition of Bent Holstein (1942 - ....) at the GALERIE MARIA LUND. It follows a long line of presentations in France over the last twenty years (FIAC 82-85, 87, 94, SAGA 92, Galerie ABCD, Galerie Cupillard). His works have been shown in most European countries as well as in the US. They are represented in numerous public collections throughout the world namely, la Ville de Paris, MOMA, National Gallery of Art (Washington) and the Mark Rothko Foundation (Lithuania).
In September 2005 artpress devoted a critical text to his exhibition at the DCA Gallery (NY).

• From 5.06.2009 Bent Holstein’s work will be visible at www.marialund.com
  
• PUBLISHING: a leaflet with reproductions of a selection of works is published for the exhibition.
  
• OPENING: Friday 12th June 2009 from 6pm to 9 pm, the artist will be present.
• The exhibition ends Saturday 5th September 2009.
• Annual closing of the gallery: from 26th July to 24th August 2009 – both days included.
  

For further information about the  availability of visuals, please contact :

GALERIE MARIA LUND     48 rue de Turenne     75003 Paris     Tuesday-Saturday 12-7 pm    
ph : (33) 01 42 76 00 33    cellphone : (33) 06 61 15 99 91    fax :(33) 01 42 76 00 10