As the counterpart to what she takes from art history, Maderthaner’s “Fluid Meta-Paintings” are inspired by experimental electronic music, particularly the work of Austrian musician Christina Nemec.

The rich effect of Maderthaner’s works arises from a conflict of opposites: illusion and projection, the figural and the abstract, borrowed material and new creations, past and present, baroque force and subtle colour palettes – the synthesis of opposing poles becomes a constant in this cycle, just as it is in her entire body of work.

Maderthaner’s works are further characterized by their subtle humour, which manifests in the ironic interplay of her paintings’ subjects and titles. Refreshingly, she doesn’t shy away from any taboos, resisting the political correctness of the intellectual mainstream.

Whenever Franziska Maderthaner references a historical painting tradition, she does so to ask questions of the present. There are many ways of interpreting her work, and we are challenged to bring our own life experiences to our understanding of it.