When we first saw Mathew Krawcheck's paintings at the Grothaus and Pearl Gallery in June, we likened his narratives to a quest like Frodo's in Lord of the Rings. The typical fantasy markers aren't there in his work, though -- no swords or dragons, and the setting is often Krawcheck's work space instead of some exotic locale. Instead of focusing on the destination of his figures, Krawcheck seems to prefer concentrating on their journey. Krawcheck, a recent graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, layers paint and veils his information, making it hard for viewers to decode its meaning. He warps the space, so that looking at his work is often like looking through a fish-eye lens. (He draws inspiration from East Indian miniature painting and often cuts his work surfaces into Persian arches.) We don't know where his characters are going, what they're preparing to do or whether they are seeking something, but at least the process is well-illustrated.
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