Farewell Mona Lisa
| Edition | Original Art |
|---|---|
| Sujet | Portrait |
| Technique | Painting |
| Height | 140 cm |
| Width | 200 cm |
| Length/Depth | 5.4 cm |
2011
Oil on canvas
200 x 140 x 5.4 cm
"Farewell Mona Lisa"
A naked body, stretched out on a cloth, between light and shadow, between promise and disillusionment. The young woman lies facing the viewer, yet her gesture subverts the classical motif of the female nude: She runs her fingers across her mouth, as if she wanted to tear her own smile from her face. It is a brutal, almost painful act of self-assertion – a rebellion against the external image that weighs upon her.
The title *Farewell Mona Lisa* refers to what is arguably the most famous smile in art history. Yet whilst Leonardo’s figure preserves the mystery, Knecht’s protagonist exposes the enigma as an imposition. She refuses to play the game in which femininity is staged as an object of projection. Instead, she reveals the vulnerability beneath the surface – and the violence concealed behind the demand for flawless beauty.
The painterly language is uncompromisingly physical: impasto oil paints, a nervous, fleshy brushstroke reminiscent of Lucian Freud, in dialogue with the expressive colour palettes of Lovis Corinth and the nervous energy of van Gogh. The background oscillates between vibrating fields of blue, green and black, criss-crossed by aggressive neon streaks – echoing a world in which artificial ideals flash in garish light.
*Farewell Mona Lisa* is not merely a rejection of the smile, but of the illusion of a smooth surface. It is a painting about identity and control, about the pressure to be beautiful – and the courage to resist that pressure, even if the price is self-harm.
Konstantin Lischkoff-Knecht
Mr Knecht studied Fine Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich from 2012 to 2020, under Günther Förg and Jorinde Voigt.
Knecht also took part in Anne Imhof’s project class and engaged in lively exchanges with various lecturers and students at the Academy.
Artist Statement
My artistic journey is deeply rooted in Abstract Expressionism, a style characterised by spontaneous, emotional and unbridled forms of expression. The works of pioneers such as Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning, as well as artists like Cy Twombly and Georg Baselitz, have significantly shaped my understanding and appreciation of the raw, immediate power of colour and form.
In my paintings, I strive to explore the boundaries of visual language and to convey the emotions and thoughts that move me onto the canvas. Abstract Expressionism offers me the freedom to express myself beyond traditional forms and conventions. This style allows me to experiment with colours, textures and compositions to create a deep and often intuitive resonance.
For me, every canvas is a slaughtering block upon which I come to terms with inner conflicts, feelings and thoughts. The movement of the brush, the flow of paint and the bold gestures reflect the intensity and spontaneity that lie at the heart of my work. The factor of time plays a very intimate role in the creative process: For me, the flow of paint and the resulting emergence of the image represent the passing of the states of my inner life as they are immediately experienced. This process is ultimately concealed from the viewer – the viewer is presented only with the outcome of my process. Through this unfiltered form of artistic expression, I strive to draw viewers into a world of emotion that is as subjective and multi-layered as human experience itself.
Abstract Expressionism has provided me not only with a stylistic framework, but also with a philosophical foundation. It reminds me that art should not merely be viewed, but experienced – it should create a direct and often personal connection between the work and the viewer.
Exhibitions (selection):
2015 Polish Institute Platan / Latarka Gallery (Budapest)
2015 Salon Kennedy (Frankfurt)
2015 Kunstverein Wiesbaden (Wiesbaden)
2016 Catholic Academy Munich (Munich)
2017 Lothringer 13 (Munich)
2017 Art Homes (Munich)
2018 Kunstarkaden (Munich)
2018 Haus 10 (Fürstenfeldbruck)
2023 Kunstarkaden (Munich)
2024 Kunstpavillon (Munich)
