the artist's studio

UeliGosteli

Biography

Ueli Gosteli's last one man show was in 1999, when he returned to his easel after a break of some 20 years. Before that he exhibited in Johannesburg in 1961, 1974 and 1975.

Richard Cheales, doyen of South African art critics in those days, writing in The Star, had this to say of his work: "Because of his eye for startling contrasts, the pieces are like modern tapestries of extravagantly lush tones... he is dependent on colour to bring variety. This he uses with excitement, audacity and ingenuity. An arresting debut for a painter who has sought inspiration the world over."

Ueli has this to say about his work:

"Music is organised sound; painting is organised colour. I paint in the same way a musician composes, with colours instead of sounds. Already back in the 19th century, a French artist, Maurice Denis, said, "Remember that a painting, before being a landscape... is above all a series of colours arranged in a certain order.

"Some pieces of music have words, which supply a 'meaning' or 'message', and some do not. It is the same with paintings; some paintings contain recognizable objects and some do not. This is optional - it is not 'necessary'. Some people prefer music with words, some do not. Both types have feeling, rhythm - they communicate. It is a matter of what you prefer."

These are colourful, optimistic works. An interior decorator's dream.