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Artist Statement -



BOGOMIL'S UNIVERSE - the Inner Universe of Otto Rapp

Bogomil's Universe is an excursion into the realms of the Inner Universe - a parallel universe that exists in the mind, and glimpses thereof are presented here. I am increasingly reluctant to speak of my work as strictly and exclusively surrealistic. While Surrealism provided the initial spark, and some of the methods of Surrealism are employed, I do not suppress the influence of the rational and selective focus. Thus, particularly in later works, there is to be found a conscious juxtaposition of the complementary forces of inspiration and reason.

I do not concern myself with the elimination of the rational, the exclusivity of the irrational and the absurd, but presentation of the conscious and subconscious world as an inseparable whole. I draw my inspirations from the layered labyrinth underground which represents the other side of life, which is an inner imaginative-inspirational counterpart to the outer world, expressed with the help of logic-alogic associations, analogisations and symbolism.

The paintings in the cyclus Bogomil's Universe are derived by creating textural surfaces, the method of Decalcomania as pioneered by the Surrealists, letting color, consistency and flow of the paint determine initial shapes, which are then interpreted by adding onto, or deleting. In the later works, films of gossamer-thin acrylics are stripped from non-absorbent supports (such as glass or plastic) and affixed, in a collage-like fashion, to the painting.

An article about the Gnostic Bogomil of 10th Century Bulgaria inspired the title of the first painting in the cyclus: Bogomil's Vegetable Garden.
For a time in history, the term bogomilism seemed to be associated, or synonymous with, outlandish and unorthodox beliefs. This, and the gnostic doctrine of dualism are the only touching points: at no time have I attempted to represent a literal, illustrative interpretation of the theme. Indeed, the detailed and lushly textured images presented would be anathema to the Bogomil belief that matter is irredeemably evil.

My interest in Religion and Mythology is particularly expressed in my drawings. Technically, they are counterpoint to the Bogomil Cyclus paintings, relying almost entirely on the action of the sharpened pencil point on virginal paper, as opposed to textured surfaces as inspirational departure points in my paintings. In both instances however, the outcome is not predetermined. The act of painting or drawing is a memorable trip into the uncharted realms of the Inner Universe, the results of which are presented to you here after the fact.

Artist Exhibitions



EXHIBITIONS
June 1972
Otto Rapp - House of Fine Art, Lethbridge, Alberta - Solo Exhibition
May 1976
Otto Rapp - Palliser Hotel, Oval Room, Calgary, Alberta - Solo Exhibition
October 1976
"What’s New" - Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta - Group Show
June 1977
"Small Prints and Drawings" - Print and Drawing Council of Canada - University of Calgary Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta - Group Show
April 1978
"Juried Student Show 1978" - University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Group Show
July 1978
"Alberta: A Selfportrait" - Commonwealth Games, Student Union Art Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta - Group Show
December 1979
"Sixpack" University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Six Person Group Show
April 1980
"Selections from the University of Calgary Collection" - Nickle Arts Museum, Calgary, Alberta - Group Show
September 1980 to March 1981
"Not Just Another Print Exhibition" - Alberta Culture 75th Anniversary - Travelling Group Show, touring the Province of Alberta
November to December 1980
"Some Drawings By Some Albertans" - Alberta Culture 75th Anniversary - Alberta College of Art,Calgary, Alberta - Group Show
January 1981
"Retrospective - 10 Years" - The Lethbridge Public Library Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Solo Exhibition
May 1981
BFA Exhibition - The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Group Show
May 1982
Otto Rapp - House of Fine Art, Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Solo Exhibition
August 1982
"Summer of 82" - Bowman Arts Center,Lethbridge, Alberta - Group Show
April 1983
"Then And Now" - 25th Anniversary Art Exhibit, Bowman Arts Center, Lethbridge, Alberta - Group Show
Spring 1983
"Canadian Drawing Survey" - Centre Sadye Bronffman, Montreal, Quebec
- Group Show
September 1983
"Bogomil’s Universe" - Bowman Arts Center, Lethbridge, Alberta - Solo Exhibition
November 1984
"Works On Paper" - Bowman Arts Center, Lethbridge, Alberta
- Group Show
May 1985
"CNIB Art 85" - CNIB Edmonton Center, Edmonton, Alberta - Group Show
May 1986
"UofL Nursing Scholarship Benefit Show" - Auditorium St,. Michael’s Hospital, Lethbridge, Alberta - Invitational Group Show
May to June 1986
"The Radish Factory Exposition" - The ‘Radish Factory’ Warehouse, Lethbridge, Alberta - Multi-Media Group Show
August 1986
"The Radish Factory" - Lethbridge and District Exhibition Pavillon, Lethbridge, Alberta - Group Show


September 1986
"Realism" - Bowman Arts Center, Lethbridge, Alberta - Four Person Show
October to November 1986
"By Means Of Line" - Muttard Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
- Invitational Group Show
October to November 1986
"Portraits" - The Radish Factory Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
- Group Show
February 1987
"As It Stands" - The Radish Factory Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Sculpture - Group Show
February 1987
"Charity Art Auction" - Lethbridge Community College Foundation, Lethbridge, Alberta - Invitational Group Show
March 1987
"The Radish Factory At Ag-Expo" - Lethbridge and District Exhibition Pavillon, Lethbridge, Alberta - Juried Group Show
April 1987
"S.O.S." - Shirley Hamilton - Reid Spencer - Otto Rapp - The Radish Factory Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Three Person Show
June 1987
"Surrealism" - Otto Rapp - Susan Fraser - Claus Cumpel - Edmonton Public Library Foyer Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta - Three Person Show
July 1987
"Claus Cumpel and Otto Rapp"- Rice Gallery - Citadel Theater, Edmonton, Alberta - Two Person Show
February 1988
"Charity Art Auction" - Lethbridge Community College Foundation, Lethbridge, Alberta - Invitational Group Show
April 1988
"Otto Rapp - Paintings and Drawings" - Trul’s Art Gallery and Restaurant , Lethbridge, Alberta - Solo Exhibition
November 1989
"Rugero Valentini, Italy and Otto Rapp, Austria-Canada" - Medicine Hat Lodge Ballroom, Medicine Hat, Alberta - Two Person Show and Sale, organized by Rick Filanti as a benefit for the ‘Medicine Hat Saamis Tepee Association’


July to September 1991
"Allied Arts Council Rental Exhibition" - Yates Center Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Group Show


May to June 1992
"Allied Arts Council Rental Exhibition" - City Hall Council Chambers, Lethbridge, Alberta
- Group Show
October 1992
"Food For Thought" - Lethbridge Community College Food Court, Lethbridge, Alberta - Group Show
June to July 1994
"Art Of The Mystic" - Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, Alberta
- Solo Exhibition
October 1994
"Handpainted Mailboxes" - Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, Alberta -
Fundraising Auction, Invitational Group Show of 29 Alberta Artists
February 1996
"Art In The Mall" - Alberta Winter Games - College Mall, Lethbridge, Alberta
- Group Show of Southern Alberta Artists
May 1996
"Annual Figurative/Portrait Exhibition" - Yates Center Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta - Juried Group Show
May 21st to
June 30th 2010
International Exhibition 2010 Surrealism Now - Bissaya Barreto Foundation, Coimbra, Portugal - Group Show
August 13th to
August 25th 2011
"The Spirit of Art" - Galerie Arthoff, Breitenstein, Austria
- Group Show
April 27th to
Nov. 15th 2012
"IMAGO" - Barockschloss Riegersburg, Austria
- Group Show
April 14th to
April 28th 2012
"Society for Art of Imagination" - Phantasten Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria
- Group Show
June 23rd to
August 26th 2012
"Austronauten" PhanArt Viechtach - Altes Rathaus Viechtach, Bavaria
- Group Show
July 13th to
Sept. 20th 2012


"VISIONARIES" The Art of the Fantastic - Queensborough Community College, The City University of New York, USA
- Group Show
July 23rd to
August 3rd 2012
"Unleashed Visions" - Arthoff Galerie, Breitenstein, Austria
- Group Show
September 1st to
Sept. 30th 2012
International Surrealism Now 2012 - Monographic Museum, Conimbriga, Portugal
- Group Show
October 4th to
October 31st 2012
"Austronauten" - Phantasten Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria
- Group Show
October 5th to
October 18th 2012
"Geysers of Subconsciousness-8" - "Plum Palm", Moscow, Russia
- Group Show
November 2nd to
Nov. 28th 2012
International Surrealism Now 2012 - Setúbal Culture House, Setúbal, Portugal
- Group Show
November 30th to December 4th 2012
Fantastic Art Shop
Weihnachtsausstellung im Palais Chotek - Vienna, Austria
- Group Show
February 7th 2013
Salon-Galerie Dr. Cornelia Mensdorff-Pouilly - Vienna, Austria
- Solo Exhibition
March 2013
Fantastic Art Shop
Goldstein & Partner, Wr. Neustadt, Austria
- Group Show
March 22nd to
April 1st 2013


Dreams and Divinities
Centro Cultural San Marcos- Toledo, Spain
- Group Show
April 10th to
May 31th 2013


International Surrealism Now 2013
Gallery Caixa de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo - Lisbon, Portugal
- Group Show
April 19 to
April 31 2013


Dreams and Divinities
Salade Arte y Sala d’esxposiciones de Maracena - Maracena, Granada Spain - Group Show
April 30th to
Nov. 17th 2013
Dollar, Schätze und Kunst
Barockschloss Riegersburg, Austria
- Group Show
May 17th to
June 2nd 2013


Dreams and Divinities
Instituto de America, Santa Fe - Granada, Spain
- Group Show


May 25 to
June 2, 2013


Geysers of Subconsciousness for Red October
Gallery DEVE - Moscow
- Group Show
May 25th to
Aug. 10th 2013


Fantastic Realism
LuminArte Gallery, Dallas, TX, USA
- Group Show
May to June 2013
Geysers of Subconsciousness-9
Moscow, Russia - Group Show
July 24th to
Aug. 8th 2013
"Eyes of the Tribe" - Arthoff Galerie, Breitenstein, Austria
- Group Show
September 4th to 8th 2013
Art Project "Geysers Subconscious CHA"
Central House of Artists, Krimsky Val, 10 - Moscow
Group Show


September 13th to Oct. 9th 2013
Dreams and Divinities
Visionary Gallery of La Porte Soleil - Paris, France - Group Show
September 22nd to October 20th 2013
Phantastic in der Box - Sammlung Westermann
bei der “Art Imaginär” 2013 im Herrenhof Mußbach - more info in this blog:
5. Internationale Ausstellung der Phantastischen und Visionären Kunst


November 9th to December 7th 2013
LuminArte Gallery - Represented Artists - New Works
Dallas, Texas, USA - Group Show
November 21st to December 21st 2013
Fantastic Art Shop
Galerie Gaisbauer - Linz, Austria - Group Show
November 30th 2013 to
January 4th 2014
Lisbon “International Surrealism Now” – The Roque Gameiro House, Amadora - Lisbon, Spain - Group Show

February 6th
2014 to
ongoing 
Fantastic Art Shop
VINI PER TUTTI ­ Vienna, Austria ­ Solo Exhibition
March 19th
2014 to
April 9th 2014
A.N.S.I.A. ­ Art for Interior
Art for Interior Gallery ­ Milan, Italy  ­ Group Show
March 21st
2014 to
April 21st 2014
Dreams & Divinities ­ Spring Equinox ­ Mexico
La Enseñanza Casa De La Ciudad
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México ­ Group Show
March 22nd 
2014 to 
April 26th 2014
Surrealism of the 21st Century
LuminArte Gallery ­ Dallas, Texas, USA ­ Group Show
May 29th
2014 to
June 1st 2014
ARTMUC 
Praterinsel, Munich, Germany ­ Group ­ Art Fair


...

Artist Publications



TALES FROM THE CRYPT BY OTTO RAPP

Excerpt from the critique by
J. Brooks Joyner, Editor Visual Arts, The Albertan,
Saturday, May 29th, 1976

The exhibition is an omnipresent reincarnation of surrealist forms, attitudes and content painted what can only be termed as a magic-realist formula. Rapp capitalizes on a curious combination of dream world juxtapositions, sensuous nightmares and archetypes. His work is an apotheosis of the paranoiac-critical activity and unconscious turmoil in visual images that so delighted the surrealists. His works are frightening, covertly symbolic and require in many cases a significant understanding of past iconographic detail in the development of Western Art. One painting, entitled "The Deterioration Of Mind Over Matter" is a frightening picture of a decomposing human scull firmly ensconed on some devilish birdcage in which the raw gore of mans physical being lies lifeless at the base. The parting flesh of the scull is secured by a tromp-loeil safety pin. This is truly an image that could have been utilized in the former issues of “Tales From The Crypt”, in fact it brings to mind in its own scary way the imaginations of Edgar Allan Poe. The poem, “The Conqueror Worm” comes to mind immediately:

But see, amid the mimic rout
A crawling shape intrude!
A blood-red thing that writhes from out
The scenic solitude!
It writhes! - it writhes! - with mortal pangs
The mimes become its food,
And the angels sob at vermin fangs
In human gore imbued.

One painting that seems to summarize Rapp’s attitude is his "Monument To The Unborn War Hero".
A large painting which includes scenes of brutality; tyranny; the soldier in various historical periods; images of Hitler; human sculls; alarming pictures of wolves; warplanes overhead and a very bold nude female figure giving birth to what appears to be a crucified figure of man. It is his visual summary of the consequences of war.
Rapp is an accomplished artist, and like so many European artists who have settled in Canada, he has a strong command of modern surrealist imagery.

(Note: J. Brooks Joyner was also Director of the Nickle Arts Museum at the University of Calgary, and Lecturer at the University of Edmonton. Later became the Director of the Vancouver Art Gallery, and is currently the Director of the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska). ...

Artist Collections



Alberta Government Provincial Art Collections, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
The Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Beinart Surreal Art Collective, Melbourne, Australia
Phantasten Museum, Palais Palffy, Vienna, Austria
Mr. and Mrs. Filanti, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Mr. and Mrs. Lencucha, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Mr. A. Daiken, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Mr. and Mrs. Kajari, Innisfail, Alberta, Canada
Mr. and Mrs. Lybbert, Vienna, Austria
Mr. and Mrs. Witek, Vienna, Austria
Dr. Cornelia Mensdorff-Pouilly, Vienna, Austria
Mr. Franz Ringswirth, Vienna, Austria
...

Artist Favorites