Since 1987, Adrian Schiess has successfully exhibited his trademark “flat” paintings internationally. He enjoyed his first US solo museum exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art beginning October 19, 2007.
Born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1959, he is considered to be one of the most important contemporary artists today. Schiess recently began referring to his flat works as painting. Monochromatic painting or concrete art is often misinterpreted as his trademark or signature. Initially, the majority of Adrian Schiess’ work was not even classified as painting by the international art community. While he claimed to be concerned with painting as a joyful activity, he gained international recognition with his “flat works” – painted hardboards.
He calls his work, “A happening of seeing.” In early exhibitions, the paintings were the central focus. Schiess filled entire rooms with panels painted in monochrome colors on flat surfaces. The artist developed his painting on wood, paper, aluminum and photos and distributed them on the ground or on walls.
The pieces formed a parallel to his watercolor painting by use of rough edges. Both sets of work represent fragments of dreams or torn pieces of ecstatic leftovers creating concrete and illusionary meaning.
For over 20 years, Schiess has worked in the fragile media. He currently has 59 works in 84 publications offered in 9 languages.