Matthias Meyer studied painting at the highly respected Duesseldorf Art Academy under one of the contemporary masters of this medium: Gerhard Richter, whose squeegee paintings are a touchstone for Meyer’s smooth, fluid surfaces. But while Richter’s oeuvre encompasses many themes, Meyer focuses on water as a vehicle to explore the abstraction and malleability of color. All his paintings have ponds, rivers, or fountains as their theme. In fact, Meyer incorporates the elemental liquid into every step of his process. First he dilutes his paints so that they resemble the consistency of water. Then he applies them to the surface of moistened canvases, which encourages mixing. He also gives up a certain amount of control over his oils, letting them drip, run and flow, much like water itself.

These methods lead to works that are characterized by both abstraction and naturalism, and which effectively convey the play of light, shadow and color on water. The surface of London, for example, has a cacophony of delicate, energetic lines that dissolve into the sky. Such indeterminacy enlivens all of the artist’s paintings and holds our eye as we unravel his watery visions.