Community Canvas is an initiative presented by The Culture Show where GBH features artwork from community members on our Digital Mural.
Today’s mural Divide by Hartmut Austen is an acrylic and oil painting loosely based on Matisse’s “La Danse”. The abstract shapes are derived from the blurry online image of a military “Global Hawk” drone in flight.
“It’s an elegant shape, weirdly figurative, and when turned upside down, sculptural,” Austen says. “For me, the drone shapes became a vehicle that helped me reflect on the battles that this country has fought, and still is fighting - with others and with itself.”
Austen studied painting and drawing with H.J. Diehl at Hochschule der Künste (University of the Arts) in Berlin. He is an Associate Professor in Painting at Boston College.
See more of Austen’s work at hartmutausten.com and on Instagram @hartmut.austen
