The rise and flourishing of conceptually based art in the second half of the 20th century has lead to a situation where little room has been left for the creator whose instincts are more in line with art’s original and most practical purpose. From the very beginnings of human culture the artist has served society as healer and dreamer and often as the revealer of a sacred order previously hidden from view. The very necessity for curative methods within human society has inspired the artist throughout human history to find forms of magic beyond the ordinary limitations of language and intellect, to touch directly and skillfully the most basic of human needs: the revelation of the unconscious and the deeply felt yearnings of the human heart and mind. It is the development and expression of these magical activities that has given the artist a needed and most valid position within society.
The visual world of Verena Baumann rests securely within this tradition. Her work has a tender, trusting expression of the unconscious and her abilities enable her to render these visions with a delicate and vulnerable feminine grace. This is all done within the context of an imaginative, formal style appropriate for the subject matter she is presenting. Her sense of image never manifests as an object depicted, but always rests in a that sublime balance where the materials of that depiction blossom as pure and nurturing form while simultaneously her use of image touches us directly as poetic expression. It is this union of method and meaning that most distinguishes her art, for it can transform the viewer from a fragmented state of emotion to one of calm and resolve. The fact that Baumann can accomplish this feat in three different mediums is admirable. Her drawings, with their playful and subtle sense of line, are deeply gratifying for the eye. The sincerity of the image, in union with these lines, is often heart breaking in its depth and tenderness of expression. Her paintings bring forth a highly developed sense of color as pure beauty. A profound and unusual palette expresses simultaneously the raw psychological qualities of the image-world she has created and the skillful necessities of that visual depiction. Often these have that unspeakable feeling of things that dreams are made of. The charm of these depictions, whether animal, human or landscape bring out a sense of wonder and hidden memory.
And finally there is her photography, if photography is the proper name for these stunningly unusual creations. Though a camera is used and the results are presented in a traditional photographic manner, what we actually see is closer to the nature of painting than picture taking as such. Baumann has managed with the simplest of techniques to find within the natural world of occurrence little theaters of pure mystery. Her sense of color is highly articulate and the unity of composition is inseparable from the world we see within these photos.
Her work throughout these three mediums is of great beauty and modesty. It is imbued with a sense of genuineness that is in itself an act of healing.
Nathaniel Dorsky
Biography
- Born in Solothurn in 1964, lives and works in Hessigkofen
- Areas of work: drawing, painting, monotype, and photography
- Specialist class in graphic design at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Bern
- Works in private and public collections
Awards
- 2019 “Fachpreis Malerei”, Kunst- und Kulturpreise des Kantons Solothurn
- 2002 “Atelierstipendium Paris” des Kantons Solothurn
- 1993 “Arbeitsjahr”, Kanton Solothurn
Exhibitions
- Seit 1992 regelmässige Teilnahme an den Jahresausstellungen der Kunstvereine Olten und Solothurn, Kunstmuseum Olten und Kunstmuseum Solothurn
- 2023 “Touché”, Installation, Kunsthaus 1, Bürgerspital, Solothurn
- 2023 “Fundus”, Gruppenausstellung, Galerie Abbühl, Solothurn
- 2022 “rhizo(h)m”, Gruppenausstellung, Schlösschen Vorder-Bleichenberg, Biberist
- 2021 “hommage an dani jehle”, Gruppenausstellung, Galerie Löiegruebe, Solothurn
- 2021 “die verschiebung”, Galerie Abbühl, Solothurn
- 2021 “Winter Aid Campaign”, Gruppenausstellung, Haus der Kunst St. Josef, Solothurn
- 2021 “Come, Dear May, and Make…”, Gruppenausstellung, Galerie Abbühl, Solothurn
- 2020 “Revivals”, Gruppenausstellung, Kunstforum Solothurn & Galerie Abbühl
- 2020 “Zart”, Stadtillustratorin, Gruppenausstellung, Kunstverein Solothurn
- 2020 “Genius Loci Salodorensis”, Gruppenausstellung, Kunstmuseum Solothurn
- 2019 “Ouverture”, Gruppenausstellung, Enroute Susanna Rüegg, Aeschbachquartier Aarau
- 2019 “Pas de deux, le bon bonbon”, Galerie Rössli, Balsthal, mit Pavel Schmidt
- 2018 “Magische Verbindung mit dem Hier und Jetzt”, Gruppenausstellung, 21. Triennale Grenchen
- 2018 “Neugier statt Gewissheit”, Galerie Abbühl, Solothurn
- 2017 “Paris Bird, Photography”, Gruppenausstellung, Migros-Kunstsammlung Aare
- 2017 “White”, Gruppenausstellung, Kunstforum Solothurn & Galerie Abbühl
- 2017 “Kunstzimmer”, Gruppenausstellung, Hotel Kurhaus Kreuz, Mariastein
- 2017 “Raum 5”, Galerie Abbühl, Solothurn
- 2017 “Zeichnungen”, Werkgalerie Germann/Oswald, Boltigen
- 2015 “Du coin de l’œil”, Galerie Abbühl, Solothurn
- 2014 “The Language of the Birds, Not Spoken, Only Heard”, Selz Art Contemporain, Perrefitte
- 2013 “Figural”, Galerie Rössli, Balsthal
- 2010 “Freispiel”, Gruppenausstellung, Kunstverein Solothurn, Kunstmuseum Solothurn
- 2008 “Malerei”, Schlösschen Vorder-Bleichenberg, Biberist, mit Anna Weber
- 2007 “Sickerndes Licht”, Galerie Quellgasse, Biel
- 2005 “Malerei”, Galerie Quellgasse, Biel
- 2003 “White”, Galerie Rössli, Balsthal
- 1998 “Pictures”, Galerie Rössli, Balsthal
- 1997 Galerie Ursula Wiedenkeller, Zürich
- 1997 “Jahresportrait 1997”, Gruppenausstellung, Kunstmuseum Kunstverein Solothurn
- 1995 “Raum II”, Galerie Ursula Wiedenkeller, Zürich
- 1994 “Szenenwechsel”, Galerie Zeta, Olten
- 1993 “Werkjahr”, Gruppenausstellung, Kunsthaus Grenchen
