An artist that has inspired me and my work for many years is Oskar Kokoschka from the expressionist movement.
I took an immediate interest in Kokoschka’s work because of his use of brush strokes and colour, they were extremely lively and bold. Another aspect of his work that appealed to me is the violent and destructive style to his painting, this approach first appeared in his work after he was classed mentally unstable due to being injured in world war one.
Kokoschka’s painting known as The Bride of the Wind 1914, is a particular favourite of mine. One of the reasons I have always admired this piece of art is due to the story behind it. The Bride of the Wind is a self portrait expressing Kokoschka’s unrequited love for Alma Mahler, widow of composer Gustav Mahler. The painting depicts Alma and Oskar himself lying naked up to the waist on a shell like vessel, floating on turbulent waves. It seems as if they have been in a shipwreck and are in the middle of the ocean. Their individual expressions and body language are immensely contrastive. Alma is lying sideways asleep. Her face appears serene, oblivious to the dangers surrounding them. On the other hand, lying next to her is Oskar, devoid of sleep. He seems to be staring into thin air, as if consumed with worry.
Kokoschka adopted a radical approach to art, which he felt was essential to the human condition and politically engaged. When I view his work it is clear that two events in his life affected his work greatly, one being his expulsion from the university he attended due to his paintings expressionistic violence that shocked the public, the other being the Nazis disproval to the work he created. I feel these factors caused Kokoschka to rebel against what people classed as art.
Kokoschka painted mainly in Oils however later in life he began to use water colours and pencils. The oil paints allowed Kokoschka to apply violent and spontaneous brush strokes which puts across emotions such as despair and anger. The made the work look chaotic, however, behind his work there is a form of controlled painting which brings together the piece. His use of water colours and pencils in later life shows he started to take a more considered approach to his work. His change in materials impresses me as he has made a journey through his art using materials.
Kokoschka’s work immediately draws the viewer to his work via the bright and bold colours he uses. Kokoschka inspires me as his work is so full of emotion, you can’t help but be challanged to find out his message, this is something I try to add to my own work. His work was painted with anger and anxiety. There is also an odd control to them – a controlled chaos that intrigues and inspires me.
– Bride Of The Wind
Shawnee Caroline Quinn 