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The solo exhibition Luminous Floating by Raffael Bader, reflects a leap further into Bader's study of light, its fleeting properties, and its relationship to nature and human perception. The exhibition title indicates the series' central theme: how light "hovers" and "floats" through space and time, touching everything without prejudice while modifying how it is seen. The concept of floating implies a weightless, suspended condition, which reflects the delicate and elusive character of light in Bader's work.
In this exhibition, light carries a literal and symbolic meaning. It shines and infuses every surface, scene, and memory, leading viewers through landscapes that alternate between tangible and ambiguous. Some of Bader's paintings, inspired by his month-long stay in the Scottish Lowlands, are deeply rooted in the region's natural environment. During his stay, Bader immersed himself in the estate's wildlife, plants, and running streams, letting the mystical characteristics of the location permeate his work. These concrete motifs are infused with light, but Bader lowers their sharpness, allowing the enchanting ambience to blur the line between the physical and the otherworldly.
However, the artist moves beyond the actual terrain, with some pieces relying on bits of recollection rather than direct observation. In these paintings, light is a conduit vessel for memory's transient and fragmentary nature in these paintings. Bader utilises this interaction to reflect on his place in the world—how it evolves, how desires and needs vary, and how the human experience navigates the tension between permanence and impermanence. Bader uses this to explore broader themes regarding humanity's relationship with nature and the artificial barriers that separate them. In his paintings, light is used as a symbol for transcending these divisions, implying the potential of a more integrated and harmonious perspective view of humanity as a part of nature. -
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Material Exploration
In this new series, Bader explores the boundaries of depth and texture, moving beyond traditional perspective. Though grounded in semi-abstract landscapes, Bader’s paintings avoid conventional depth, instead achieving a unique sense of dimensionality through his intricate materiality. By using a medium that makes his oil paint water-miscible or mixing the paint with sand, Bader creates layered textures that reveal the painting process of each piece. The sand mixtures add a tactile quality, while the interplay of thicker and thinner paint areas exposes a rawness and transparency in the painting process. This approach allows the viewer to experience the composition as a physical, evolving surface.
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Silent Floating Gleam
The prominent triptych Silent Floating Gleam revisits the recurring motif of the tree, a symbol that first emerged in Bader’s work during the early days of the pandemic. At a time when his travels were restricted, Bader found inspiration in the local park during daily walks. In these trees, he saw reminders of the fleeting beauty in the world, encouraging a focus on the present and the peacefulness in small moments.
The triptych conveys this sense of time through three separate but connected canvases, each capturing a unique perspective and moment. The scenes don’t flow seamlessly from one canvas to the next; instead, they align loosely, capturing time and memory's layered and shifting nature. With the trees positioned on the left and right, the overall composition has a grounding effect, evoking a scene that feels as if you are standing by a beach or lake, surrounded by calm. Through this piece, Bader invites viewers to embrace each individual moment, just as he did with his surroundings during an uncertain time.
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Raffael Bader, 24 October - 1 December
