Art Monaco 2013 presents the art world’s limitless range featuring exhibitors who appreciate the past, embrace the present and forecast the future. The art fair, taking place at Grimaldi Forum Monaco, April, 25-28, showcases the highest caliber galleries and emerging artists, exceptional programming, charity auction and special exhibitions. Situated in the Espace Diaghilev Hall, the visitors have an easy access through the esplanade Princesse Grace, just between the Japanese Garden and the main entrance of the Grimaldi Forum. Its proximity to the famous “Place du Casino” and the short walking distance to main hotels make of the Grimaldi Forum a perfect place of interaction and communication between artists, gallerists, curators, art critics and art collectors.

One of this year’s highlights in the Modern and Contemporary Art section include artworks by Thomas Maes, the premiere of unique oil paintings, sculptures and design objects, inviting the sophisticated art lovers to discuss it.

Thomas Maes, born 1983 in Belgium, shows an extraordinary collection of paintings with ordinary objects in an unusual context. They attract the viewer`s attraction by giving new meanings to familiar things. The use of ordinary objects in unfamiliar spaces is joined to his desire to create poetic imagery as well as his consciousness to think about the Universe. Thomas Maes described the process of painting as the art of putting colors side by side in such a way that their real aspect is effaced, so that familiar objects - clouds, amphoras, houses, trees or cubic forms - become united in a single poetically disciplined image. The poetry of these images dispense with any symbolic significance, old or new. Each of these recurring themes can be interpreted differently and has significant meanings.

His paintings titled “Dark Matter”, “A New World” or “Civilization” represent visible images which evoke a kind of mystery. Thomas Maes` constant play with reality and illusion can be attributed to his interest in history, science and culture. Since seven years, the Belgium artist is living and working at the Greece island of Crete, surrounded by the ancient Minoan civilization and archetypical, archaelogical find spots. In his artworks Maes is back and forth playing, zapping on and off with reality and illusion, reflecting his constant shifting back and forth perception during his mental time journey. Since many years Thomas Maes formed his own signature in a very clean, concise and exacting style.

In cooperation with the Princess Angelique Monet, Thomas Maes will also host an auction to sell paintings for a charity purpose. He will donate the funds from this auction to the Belgium Cancer Foundation (art against cancer) as well as 10 percent of the sale proceeds of the sold art works. Engaged to be part of a good cause, Thomas Maes is interested to inspire us, because his works represent both dreams and apparent paradoxes at the same time. The themes and motifs encourage thinking about our world, about the Mankind, Genesis, Macrocosm and the Universe.  

Journey in the Universe  - Thomas Maes  at  ART  MONACO  2013

by Dr. Barbara Aust-Wegemund, Art Historian

LOCATION

 Art Monaco 2013: April 25-28

Grimaldi Forum Monaco

10, Avenue Princesse Grace

Monte Carlo, 98000 Monaco

www.artemonaco.com

Fair Hours & Special Event Schedule:

Thursday, April, 25:   18.30 – 22.00 Private Opening, Black Tie preferred

Friday, April, 26:        13.00 – 17.00 Public Hours

                                 18.00 – 21.00 Private Reception, Black Tie preferred

Saturday, April, 26:     12.00 – 20.00 Public Hours

                                  16.00 Charity Auction: Princess Angelique Monet & Thomas Maes

                                   19.00 Special Event

Sunday, April, 27:         12.00 – 19.00 Public Hours

                                   13.00 Project “Paint for Life” - Brunch         

Admission:

General Admission: 20 Euro

Students and Seniors: 10 Euro

Children until the age of 12: free entrance

Artist Studio Thomas Maes:

Email: tm-art@inbox.com

http://thomas-maes.artistwebsites.com

Contact Author:

Art History Consulting / Management: Dr. phil. Barbara Aust-Wegemund

Krokusweg 6a / 22869 Hamburg-Schenefeld /Germany

Phone +49.40.29898008 / Mobile +49.179.4605679

info@arthistoryconsulting.de / www.arthistoryconsulting.de

About the Author: 

Dr. Barbara Aust-Wegemund, born in Zuerich/ Switzerland, is a German Art Historian and Managing Director at Art History Consulting (AHC). She studied Art History at Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel (Germany), University for Foreigners Perugia (Italy) and London Guildhall University (UK). In 2002 she received her PHD from University of Kiel with a Dissertation on Henry Moore. As an expert on modern and contemporary art, she has published many essays and articles in the Editorial Department at Goethe Institutes Inc.