Markus Schinwald

These are by artist Markus Schinwald. I was first introduced to his work last year at the Liverpool Biennial and really loved the tone and mood he creates in his work, very like portraits painted in the 17th and 18th century. I like the dull, dark and grim feel to the pieces. I was obviously automatically drawn to the various devices and straps attached to the subjects, they gave the paintings an even more uneasy feel to them, almost like they were devices of pain or even twisted pleasure. I really like this idea of some kind of constricting garment to cloak appearance.