Violation Oil on Canvas 35 ”x28”

Katrin Alvarez-Schlüter - Matrix of the Mind

Within Katrin Alvarez-Schlüter's body of work, there exists that which is deeply personal, yet simultaneously universal. She focuses on states of existence; anxiety, fear, anger, isolation, and wonder, exploring emotional themes, and delving into what makes us uniquely human. During her residence at Agora Gallery of Chelsea, 530 West 25th Street, Alvarez-Schlüter's stunning use of subject matter was apparent. The subjects of her paintings are realistic with a startling twist; their faces and body languages are emotive and expressive and communicate volumes without words. Alvarez-Schlüter works in various mediums, and her pallet ranges from fiery reds and browns, to electrified and rich blues. Her use of color is often intense and viscous, possessing certain solidity. At other times, she mixes very subtle washed-out tones with intense areas of saturation. In her style, Alvarez-Schlüter mixes realistic figures with precisely rendered symbolism. Small creatures roam freely. Objects sprout from the bodies of her subjects. Sheets of organic material seem to echo the folds of memory and time. Billowing ribbons and wonderfully textured matter frames her subjects in dream-like surroundings. The result is internal and heady. Alvarez-Schlüter's use of detail and textural elements lends much depth to her paintings, making one feel that if they focused on the details, peering into them, they could discover another vivid and rich scene, as equally detailed as the first. Alvarez-Schlüter's work often ventures into the surreal and fantastic while exploring the feats of the subconscious and the internal world. She often places her subjects inside compartmented walls like empty dollhouses, isolating them; their forms stark against pale, plain walls. Her most intense environments almost writhe with activity. The rules of scale, gravity, and logic seem non applicable, and her subjects are noticeably unaware of, or indifferent to, the objects that bind to their bodies, as well as to the magnitude of what exists around them. This can indeed be perceived as Alvarez-Schlüter's focus on the absence of man from his emotional self.