A EXHIBITION of work from the world famous artist Stefan Knapp has been opened this week at Maesmawr Art Gallery.
The ‘Stefan Knapp Sculpture Project’ is a unique venture. A large indoor sculpture hall, which was a former sheep shed, is located behind the gallery and is perfect place to contemplate Art and Life.
As well as viewing sculptures, visitors can also see the progression of Stefan’s work and how he experimented over the years.
In what would have been his 90th year, the project is the realisation of the work that his widow, Cathy Knapp, put in over numerous years to get the project together.
“I had a big collection of work and sculptures, and I needed a space for them. Ever since Stefan died I knew that we had to do something with the work,” she said.
The sculpture hall at Maesmawr Art Gallery, near Caersws, is a suitable space to house and exhibit a permanent collection. With an outdoor sculpture space where large scale works can utilise the potential of the innovative space and are protected from the elements.
Stefan Knapp is best known for his vibrant enamel murals which can be seen in many museums and public buildings all over the world. Both his paintings and his sculptures explore the possibilities and limitations of figuration and abstraction, providing a unique insight into the developments of twentieth century art.
His personal experience of some of the defining moments of modernity, in both its horror and its glory, give his work a depth of understanding seldom paralleled. His ceaseless commitment to furthering the scope of his art led to his invention in 1954 of the potential for fusing enamel onto steel on a scale never before contemplated.
The landmark technique was deeply reflective both of Knapp’s respect for tradition and his unerring faith in innovation and experimentation. His discoveries enabled him to work on public and private commissions of colossal proportions and he continued to pioneer the medium.
The project is the realisation of Cathy’s ambition to find a suitable space to house and exhibit a permanent collection.
The large Georgian house at Maesmawr has been turned into a gallery and what was a huge sheep shed has been cleverly transformed into an outdoor sculpture hall where large scale sculptures and murals are protected from the elements while having space they need to ‘breathe’.
Other ancient farm buildings provide convenient walls to display enamels while the substantial gardens and 18 acres of farmland are beginning to fulfil their promise as a sculpture park.
Cathy added: “This is to encourage young people to get involved in art. It’s basically to enjoy the work which is very uplifting. It’s a wonderful and happy exhibition. Stefan cared very much about teaching and educating the young.”
The exhibition will continue Thursday to Sunday 11am until 4pm up to the end of May. For more information, call 01686 688369.