Artist’s Statement

(Allegorical Surrealism)

Allegory Allos other + egorein to speak publicly 1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also: an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression. 2: a symbolic representation. Allegorical 1: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of allegory 2: having hidden spiritual meaning that transcends the literal sense of a sacred text.

Surrealism the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural juxtapositions and combinations. The art of painting used to be viewed as a noble calling, and a painter who was skilled in the elements of creating great works of art was compelled to do so. Painters laid out images onto wood, canvas, pottery, and walls in order to convey stories, thoughts, and forms of inspiration about their generation. For anyone who was unable to read, this medium served as a bridge of understanding. And for those very few artists, their work was a culmination of both beauty and truth, transcending both the materials and the artist.

The 20th century is characterized as the atomic age. With vast scientific discoveries, an explosion of communication, and a globalization of the entire world, the art of painting exploded into color elements, droplets, and ultimately blank canvases. Perhaps this was necessary – spinning off elements of truth in one direction, and fundamentals of beauty in the other. In this gig hertz society, our attention span seems to be measured in milliseconds, almost suggesting abstractions or even blank canvases are all we can assimilate at any given moment. But where does this take painting and the painter? Is the progression of art and the human psyche such that atomic particles are the final residue of man’s creative nature, ultimately finding refuge through space into a black hole? Or is it nature’s course to coalesce these atoms into new and recognizable forms after the big bang? If a picture is worth a thousand words, is an abstraction of that picture worth less, or more? Can there be a value judgment assigned to a blank canvas? Can a canvas become more blank, and if not, will the direction of life be circular with a process of fusion after fission? To understand the subtleties in life, we look at the extremes, and so I do. I believe the human eye is a doorway. Through it, we invite an infinite number of forms, colors, tones, and textures. Through this, I remain convinced that we can inspire by fusing truth with beauty back into form. I do not believe that our society has become so literate at the dawn of the 21st century that abstractions of form and color adequately fill the doorway of our senses. Perhaps contemporary writers like J.K. Rowlings, and Tolkien have demonstrated a deep hungering for a return to rich detail and story telling.

I recognize my own hunger pain for rich story-telling.  So I cannot seek to satisfy the esoteric whose delights are with the random floating particles and abstractions.  . . To me, they say so little, and yet so much about our

time – perhaps the latter is the very point of the abstraction – a definition of the time. But my own need requires me to hold my course, and seek my own truths and discoveries after 35+ years as a spectator. How my work is created now pervades every cell of my being – and that is my greatest accomplishment in this lifetime.

Alexander Koleszar

The following works of art are presented in chronological order, from earliest to most recent. They follow the spectrum of life’s experiences, good and bad. Through this process I seek an understanding of the techniques and materials of painting, and a way to communicate my own observations of life at this time.