Eduard Lesjak


Pas de deux, 2005 (acrylic and thread on canvas), several works, 10 x 10 x 29,7 cm

The creativity of Eduard Lesjak is essentially marked by thread, which he uses as an artistic material for bold explorations of the specific abstract visual language of his own invention. More precisely, thread in his works replaces the painting stroke; in contrast to numerous artists who also use the technique of sewing on canvas, Lesjak has sewn on the painting surface by hand. The application of thread in Lesjak's work has a specific logic attained by means of a special technique, in which the main thread is enwrapped in other threads and then fastened to the painting surface. Especially this enwrapping reminds one of a detail from nature, i.e. vine
tendrils (vines are one source of the artist's inspiration), which grow and intertwine to form natural abstract patterns. The cubical form of the painting surface points to sculpture, and the artist has named the bodies of these objects "modules". Furthermore, Lesjak combines both elements – thread and the background surface – according to the principles of self-explorational art (Modernism), and he adds colour as a basic painting element. The exhibited works with their gleaming fluorescent colours and inventively sewn lines pay tribute to the meditatively
engrossed ambience of the artistic creative process.
In addition, Eduard Lesjak exhibits four works made in collaboration with Petra Varl. These
works present a dialogue between the two artists, which resulted in the confluence of two quite different visual languages and explorations. These works are a juncture of the so-called Lesjak modules, in which he explores abstract structures, and Varl's realistic images executed as prints on canvas, featuring her daughter and her friend as symbols of the current generation of adolescents with their fragility and determination.

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Born in 1961 in Klagenfurt (Austria). He learned by himself and he works as a free-lance artist. He is a member and adviser of the Kunstvereins Kärnten. He attended the Summery Academy under Herman Nitsch and several residency programmes, e.g. in Šmartno (Slovenia),
Wiesbaden (Germany) and Ittingen (Switzerland).

Solo exhibitions (selection):

2006 an der nadel, Galerie – Kärnten, Klagenfurt
2005 Galerie im Rathaus, Wiesbaden
2003 Likovne komunikacije Brda, Šmartno near Slovenj Gradec
2002 Haus Franz von Sales, Kleinformatiges 1995-2002, Klagenfurt
2001 Galerie Bernd, Schmuck und Kunst, Wolfsberg

Group exhibitions (selection):

2006 Types Faces, Galerie Museum, Waidhoffen
damals wie heute, Galerie Schloss Straßburg
2005 Crossover 2005 „pas de deux“ EU-Projekt, zeitgenösische Kunst aus Kaernten und Slowenien, Kunstverein Kärnten
E. Lesjak und Petra Varl, Künstlerhaus, Klagenfurt
2004 Lupo+, Club - Carinthia, Klagenfurt
Jeder.Selbst, Künstlerhaus, Klagenfurt
1997 26. Österreichischer Graphikwettbewerb, Innsbruck