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Lot Essay
Swiss-born Theo Meier is best known for his depiction of a romanticized Indonesia, particularly inspired by what he saw as the enchanting and captivating lifestyle and culture of Bali. Theo Meier's style of painting is greatly influenced by that of Paul Gauguin, but Meier developed a distinctive new form of expression after his arrival in Bali, Indonesia.
The artist pays great attention to detail, composition and choice of colour in his paintings. Theo Meier frames his figures with bright colours like red or blue to emphasize them. His signature style of including flowers in his paintings as counterpoint to figures is also very common, as seen in all three paintings, Jettli with a Vase of Orchids, Two Women in a Garden with a Balinese Mask, Jettli and Lotus Flowers (Lot 352, 350 & 351)
Meier's use of brilliant, pure and bright colours and the flat two-dimensional forms act as a subjective response to reality and is emotionally impactful. The orange, red and yellow hues, which are present in most of his paintings, evoke a sense of warmth and almost replicate the environment and atmosphere of the tropical island of Bali. Though mostly painted in rich hues of red, the artist often contrasts this with the inclusion of dark blue or purple in his colour palette. The use of contrasting colours creates a sense of balance within the image and a feeling of tranquillity. It also points to Meier's search for his own style at this period.
In Jettli with a Vase of Orchids and Jettli and Lotus Flowers, Meier has painted his beloved Thai wife, Jettli, who became his third wife in 1964. Meier's compositional arrangement of including a large vase of flowers in his painting is his way of placing emphasis and enhancing Jettli's beauty. Jettli is portrayed in with an expression of sensuality and this could have been representative of Meier's idealization of beauty and Bali. Furthermore, with floral ornaments being an integral part of tropical adornments in Bali, we can see that Balinese themes were constant throughout Meier's paintings, despite being in Thailand.
Two Women in a Garden with a Balinese Mask shows Theo Meier's assimilation of the influences of Gauguin, in his natural depiction of Balinese people and that of Van Gogh, in his exuberant use of colours. In the foreground are the Balinese girls, depicted in raw forms, with a seemingly relaxed and dreamy posture, as though fascinated by the mask. The contrasting blue outlines, a distinctive feature of Meier's, places emphasis on the two women and at the same time, adds on the dream-like mood conveyed by the painting. In Balinese society, masks are considered to be sacred items but the mask was not painted in such great detail. This work is abound with the spontaneity and honesty of the artist.
Theo Meier's essential character as a painter of the tropics, his vivacity and lust for life, and the enduring influence of Bali on his works, show through wonderfully in the three works presented here.
The artist pays great attention to detail, composition and choice of colour in his paintings. Theo Meier frames his figures with bright colours like red or blue to emphasize them. His signature style of including flowers in his paintings as counterpoint to figures is also very common, as seen in all three paintings, Jettli with a Vase of Orchids, Two Women in a Garden with a Balinese Mask, Jettli and Lotus Flowers (Lot 352, 350 & 351)
Meier's use of brilliant, pure and bright colours and the flat two-dimensional forms act as a subjective response to reality and is emotionally impactful. The orange, red and yellow hues, which are present in most of his paintings, evoke a sense of warmth and almost replicate the environment and atmosphere of the tropical island of Bali. Though mostly painted in rich hues of red, the artist often contrasts this with the inclusion of dark blue or purple in his colour palette. The use of contrasting colours creates a sense of balance within the image and a feeling of tranquillity. It also points to Meier's search for his own style at this period.
In Jettli with a Vase of Orchids and Jettli and Lotus Flowers, Meier has painted his beloved Thai wife, Jettli, who became his third wife in 1964. Meier's compositional arrangement of including a large vase of flowers in his painting is his way of placing emphasis and enhancing Jettli's beauty. Jettli is portrayed in with an expression of sensuality and this could have been representative of Meier's idealization of beauty and Bali. Furthermore, with floral ornaments being an integral part of tropical adornments in Bali, we can see that Balinese themes were constant throughout Meier's paintings, despite being in Thailand.
Two Women in a Garden with a Balinese Mask shows Theo Meier's assimilation of the influences of Gauguin, in his natural depiction of Balinese people and that of Van Gogh, in his exuberant use of colours. In the foreground are the Balinese girls, depicted in raw forms, with a seemingly relaxed and dreamy posture, as though fascinated by the mask. The contrasting blue outlines, a distinctive feature of Meier's, places emphasis on the two women and at the same time, adds on the dream-like mood conveyed by the painting. In Balinese society, masks are considered to be sacred items but the mask was not painted in such great detail. This work is abound with the spontaneity and honesty of the artist.
Theo Meier's essential character as a painter of the tropics, his vivacity and lust for life, and the enduring influence of Bali on his works, show through wonderfully in the three works presented here.