Polisei

Balancing on the boundary between abstraction and figuration, without fully succumbing to either style, Cornelius Quabeck's works fuse kaleidoscopic flashes of vibrant colour with fragmented renderings of figures, architecture and nature. Executed using a combination of oil, graphite and dye on linen, Polisei is a visually arresting work that layers explosive shades of grassy green, canary yellow, sky blue and ochre over a meticulously rendered drawing. Emerging from the depths of this frenzied mixture of tones, a womans face gradually appears. Her mouth contorted into a terrified scream, this figure is reminiscent of the screen sirens of Hollywood's heyday, her facial expression recalling that of a Roy Lichtenstein heroine. Behind her we can detect a cityscape, which appears to be under threat, as suggested by the splashes of grey pigment that are encroaching on it. The title of this work is akin to the German word for police. Perhaps this is who the tragic protagonist is beckoning for as she runs for safety.