quinta-feira, 10 de novembro de 2011

Six Swiss Cyclists












These are very fragile paintings done on straw mats. I used acrylic paints, Lascaux, on the available summer straw mats from Migros. It was 1992, in Steimaur, near Dielsdorf. Right next to my house the road were closed for a bicycle race. From my studio I could hear the baerings of one hundred racing bicycles spinnining away into the road to the next village. I imagined the racers at their starting grid, minutes before the lineup. Their legs still cold, standing next to their bicycles.
The paintings were done in various sizes, depending on the availability of the straw mats. Some measuresd several centimeters more or less than the others. Sizes ranged from 170cm to 180 cm high. Width could vary. These works are over 20 years old. They were done during a couple of months, as my style varied and I insisted on the theme, between other works. 
João, my son, took a great effort into photographing the pictures under very crummy conditions. I don't go about showing my paintings all the time. I feel they are too personnal, and are not to be shown around. 
I am really happy of these pieces.