Artist and filmmaker Constantin Werner invites you to his latest solo exhibition, “World in Ashes,” at Wonzimer Gallery, Los Angeles. Following his 2020 show, “Dead Souls,” Werner returns with a visceral exploration of human impact on the planet.
“World in Ashes” serves as an artist’s reaction to the unraveling fabric of our world, capturing the devastation wrought by war, global warming, flooding, and the destruction of the rainforest. Through his conceptual, neo-expressionist oil paintings, watercolors, and charcoals, Werner invites viewers to confront the harsh realities of our time.
Drawing from personal history, Werner’s portrayal of war echoes through the ruins of Dresden, a city destroyed during World War Two. His grandmother and her children were fighting for survival in that destroyed city as refugees from Czechoslovakia until they settled in Switzerland. The artist’s familial ties to the aftermath of war infuse his work with a deep sense of introspection and commemoration.
In his depiction of global warming, Werner turns his gaze towards the melting ice of Antarctica, symbolizing the perilous consequences of climate change.
The legend of Atlantis serves as a haunting reminder of the destructive power of flooding, woven into the fabric of human mythology. Werner’s interpretation breathes life into this ancient tale, intertwining it with contemporary narratives of rising sea levels and environmental upheaval.
Finally, the wildfires raging through the Amazon Rainforest emerge as a stark testament to humanity’s impact on the natural world.
Join us as we bear witness to the beauty, the anguish, and the resilience of a world in ashes.
