early works from Martin Stock
HOMO SAPIENS (2006 until ...)
In the context of the conceptual LändleX-exhibition “RED” also including “FaithRED” (from conceptual series “Pagan Tales”) in Spring 2006, Martin Stock was especially interested in the aspect of “modern man”. This was the basis for his new series “homo sapiens”.
Near One's Homeland (2004 until 2005)
The year 2004 saw the birth of the series “Near One's Homeland” with an rather long exhibition by the artist group LändleX within the scope of the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg. Themes included subjects such as “Homeland”, “Bregenzerwald” and “Schwarzenberg”. Although Martin Stock (mashART) was born in Germany, he lived in the Bregenzerwald from 1970 to 1986 – he was raised there.
Hohenems – his current home of choice – left it's mark on history as early as the 12th century and has a moving past. The land, its peope and their lives were at the constant mercy of political, economic and human troubles and developments.
PAGAN TALES (2000 until ...)
With “Pagan Tales” the artist started to rework some of the Holy Scriptures. From a neutral point of view, an ignorant (not uneducated), a bold exploring.... and with an experienced point of view.
He was searching a new approach and began to read the text as valid developmental laws – a guidepost for the construction of a responsible self. Visualizing “Pagan Tales” he works equally profoundly and emphatically with peculiar imagery, as well as a precise use of terminology which has been moulded through the centuries, handed down Scripture or fragments of Scripture, symbols, and the teachings of the Christian faith.
Gift of the Nile series (2000 until ...)
“Gift of the Nile” is what the Greek historian Herodot called the fascinating land in the north of Africa. The 1,000 km long river is Egypt's life line, and its fertile shores build the foundation for the development of the region well into the modern age.The core thought is a concise series, which visualizes, in his typical form, the emerging symbols of the Pharaoes.
“ÉLÉMENTS” (1993 until 2001)
The conceptual series “éléments” offers insight into a creative phase lasting several years, in which Martin Stock (mashART) compulsively picked up the subject again and again: the aspect of the mystic existentialism with its extremes, with its facets and its consequences on the... or rather despite the personal maturing process.
The representation of man is the centre of all pieces, which naively ascertained and contemplatively announcing, were combined in an aesthetic-erotic oevre.
BASICS (1989 until 1998)
Originally, Martin Stock (mashART) called BASICS an art calendar for 1999, limited to 50 prints, for which he used 13 pieces from the beginnings in 1990 to the current ones in 1998, which seemed to be randomly arranged. Since then, however, the term “BASICS” has been used to designate his early works up to the conceptual series “éléments”.
TRIPLE ART – “Photo, Text, Colour” (1990 until 1994)
Stefan Rüf, Bernd Schelling, Martin Stock
TRIPLE ART was a synonym for an attempt, to show proven artistic methods from a new point of view. Art from three very different artists. A circle began and offered an immensely large room for experimentation.
Even in childhood man has the urge to investigate mysteries. It is there that he receives a tremendously large palette of premonitions, of which he only preserves pieces for his fertile days. As TRIPLE ART we tried to find the key to our senses, weaknesses and strengths – to recognize the ego. The exhibits were compositions of paintings, literature and photography – fusions of different variations.