The memories of the artist become pictorial worlds

The Zug artist Peter Voser is exhibiting his new works In the Z-Galerie in Baar: one technique in particular shapes his painting.

These are two themes that have always accompanied Peter Voser, and these can also be seen in the current exhibition at the Z-Galerie Baar, which opened last Saturday. "My work is characterised by departure and arrival, both spatially and temporally. A lot of it is about landscapes and paths as stations and transitions," explains the artist during a tour. Almost all the works are aquarelles in harmonious colours, with only a few abstract elements, sometimes supplemented with fine graphite drawings.

"Yes, watercolour is my number one technique, because the fleeting moments that the paintings radiate correspond exactly to me," he says, but immediately adds that he nevertheless carefully prepares the design and distribution of the pictorial space. The first picture, "Awakening", which hangs in the entrance area, shows a dark, path-like layer in the lower part, and above it a fence-like formation that arouses the curiosity to look through it. Delicate cloud formations dance above. On closer inspection, the motif, which is held in soft shades, consists of several transparent water colour layers. This is the technique that also radiates lightness in the other works by Peter Voser, even though they have arisen through a deliberately determined structure. Some works took two to three days, says Peter Voser, as he adds several layers of paint and has to allow each one to dry before he can continue working on the painting.

Peter Voser mainly finds his expression in watercolour painting.

With such works, he casts his gaze back into the past and, at the same time, points to the future. "It's like a hub, because the themes keep returning. This is also reflected in the titles." Despite the abstraction – square forms are often hinted at – they are emotional images, the design of which Peter Voser often draws from memory. As with the motif "Turned", whose views he was inspired to see after visiting an old pharmacy. Theatre visits also motivated him to create the "Stage" series. The space is hinted at here, and is supplemented with playful elements and shapes. "This is supposed to stimulate the viewer's imagination," he says.

The allure of the white sheet
There are also some works from last year In the lower floor area, in which he combines acrylic with graphite. And here, too, he remains true to his pictorial elements, with an unmistakable sense of colour. "I've been painting for 50 years and I create without denying my age. Painting is still a passion for me," says the 71-year-old, laughing. He also rides a bike, takes walks or looks after his grandchildren, of course, but he still regularly goes to the studio nevertheless. "The white sheet just attracts me. And I'm not afraid that I won't think of anything anymore."

Peter Voser was born in Zug in 1949 and completed his first vocational training in the graphic arts industry. Through targeted further education and study visits, his path led to professional painting and drawing. He has twice received a cantonal scholarship, and has been exhibiting regularly since the end of the seventies, as well as participating in major projects. His work has already been praised in several publications.

Note
The exhibition can be seen in the Z-Galerie, Dorfstrasse 6a in Baar until 28 November. Open Wed-Fri, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sat/Sun, 11 a-m. – 2 p.m.