Page 26 - The Documenta issue of World of Art magazine (2002)

Svein koningens “living gallery” in Noosa, Queensland allows the artist to reveal their personality through
art in auStralia a home, a gallery, a lifestyle: it is an almost tangible Svein’s work is abstract expressionist. There are
spontaneity,” Svein says.
Australia is an introduction and immersion into the
actuality of lifestyle and art. For this living gallery is

canvasses hungry, swirling, gutsy, trowelled and grafted
dynamic fusion of art and daily living – and successfully
with vibrant colour & energy. The artist says he works
showcases one of Australia’s few successful abstract
with intense physicality, always to music and like one
expressionist artist’s ethos and work.
of the forefathers to abstract expressionism in America,
The life of Svein koningen is intriguing and here is
horizontal position.
a continuing journey that seems to parallel Svein’s
cosmopolitan cultural background. Born to a Norwegian jackson Pollack, also works with the canvasses in a
mother, although he says “many ask whether I am For Svein, inspiration is found in the process painting
Swedish”; and a Dutch and the of development
father, Svein’s family and exploration and again,
lived first in Amsterdam Svein Koningen following in the tradition
then took a cultural of jackson Pollack, he is
and geographic leap to a high octane painter and
Geelong, Australia. drips, splashes, using layers
of paint, palette knives,
Having completed his trowels and sweeping
secondary schooling Svein movements.
spent a summer in a gift
shop and was about to “While I may begin a
continue in a world of painting with the vision of a
retail when he discovered certain colour or a specific
the idea of industrial theme, I never really know
design and so set off to exactly what form the
art school. He excelled finished canvas will take. I
academically albeit simply allow my instinct to
with a glitch of feisty guide my hands and draw
european independence inspiration from the process
and determination to of creation.”
think outside the box. Perhaps the genes of a Dutch
father working in Norway during the war, with the “The one constant in my work is my expression of
underground movement were finding expression in the vibrant colour and energy”. The artist says he wants
next generation. to take people out of their everyday life and create
an ongoing frisson of energy and colour. Sometimes,
Noosa seems to suit Svein and he to it. He has achieved Svein feels there is a connectedness between our soul’s
substantial success and recognition throughout journey in this life and the expressions that appear on
Australia and across the Americas, Asia and europe. canvass. However, the artist is categoric in attesting
that there is no political or social statement in his work.
“I always maintained my passion for art throughout
the years in business, drawing and experimenting with Perhaps this imbuement of life, vitality and essence
many different mediums and styles. It was abstract of soul, rhythm and stunning vibrant colour provides
expressionism that eventually drew me away from a clue to the value and desirability that domestic and
realism, as it is the one style of painting that truly international clients place on Svein koningens’ works.

24 WORLD of ART