The exhibition devoted to the work of Konrad Mägi will go on display at the gallery from the 24th March until the 12th July.
The Dulwich Picture Gallery is set to celebrate the work of the Estonian artist,in the first UK exhibition devoted to the artist Konrad Mägi.
Considered to be a pioneer of Estonian modernism, Mägi is renowned in his home country for his avantgarde, unique colouristic style and is widely considered the greatest Estonian artist of his generation.
This show will bring together over 60 works including landscapes and portraits – many of which have not been seen outside of Estonia before. The aim of the display is to highlight the influence of major European movements upon Mägi’s work, such as Pointillism, Neo-
Impressionism and Expressionism, as well as the independent approaches that he took in painting as a largely self-taught artist.
From studying at the Stieglitz Art School in St. Petersburg in 1902, to travelling across Europe, this display will capture how as an artist his work evolved, marked by bold
experimentation with brushstrokes, colour, motifs, and perspective.
After spending time in Norway between 1908 and 1910, he created a series of Norwegian landscapes that brought him his first artistic recognition. The works from this period reveal his profound connection to the natural world, painted during a challenging chapter in his life.
Meanwhile, his portrait work mostly commissioned by wealthy Estonian families, showcase his distinctive use of colour, combined with arresting facial expressions that place his subjects at the centre of the work. Historically overshadowed by his landscapes, this exhibition brings Mägi’s portraiture to the fore, tracing the evolution of his style with artistic influences from Cubism to German Expressionism.
Turning to the Baltic islands following his declining health, Mägi produced a
significant body of work during the summers of 1913 and 1914. The exhibition will
showcase paintings created in Saaremaa and Vilsandi, representing a breakthrough
moment artistically for the artist. These works demonstrate his fascination with the
unique botanical species of the landscape including flora, fauna, and the vastness
of the sea.
Mägi’s landscapes of Southern Estonia, created in the latter period of his life, will
be presented in the final room of the exhibition. These paintings demonstrate the
artist’s fascination with capturing the rhythm and tone of the natural landscape; the
idyllic lakes of the area become the protagonists of his paintings and often feature
dramatic skies that express inner emotions.
Kathleen Soriano, Curator, said: “Sometimes it is the unfamiliar that gives us pause
for thought and that allows us to understand more clearly the interconnectedness
of creativity across the world. To be able to consider Mägi in a broader art historical
context, and for the first time in a concerted manner in the UK, shows us that there
are many more artists out there deserving of attention.”
To book tickets for the exhibition, visit: https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/konrad-magi/