John E Franzén - Artist of the Quarter winter 2021/2022

John E Franzén exhibited several paintings at Gävle Konstcentrum from November 13, 2021 until January 9, 2022.

Through his art, Franzén has attracted attention, debate and strong reactions and, above all, his art has pushed the boundaries of traditional motifs. There is a sense of emptiness and desolation in his work, where the human dream is opened to the projections and beliefs of the viewer. In recent years, his work focuses more on spirituality and existential values in a digital age.

John E Franzén 13 november 2021 — John E Franzén at the opening ceremony on November 13, 2021.

The paintings Twilight and The Jesus Painting by John E Franzén — The paintings *Twilight* and *The Jesus Painting* by John E Franzén.

John Stene, the art curator for Gävle Konstcentrum, is telling us about the two paintings above.

“The two paintings are fateful and empty of people. The only trace of human presence is the cars on the highway. The perspective is from above directed down towards the central and older parts of Los Angeles. The paintings are hazy and a bit blurry, is it air pollution or is it a premonition? Central to the images is, in one, a burning sun and in the other a prominent figure of Christ. The shadow moving in front of the sun in Twilight – is it on its way away or is it on its way to take over the landscape? In The Jesus Painting we find no shadow. Is it chased away by the biblical symbolism literally engraved on the canvas? Is it a force measurement we encounter between these two works? Los Angeles, in literature and art many times a place for both ups and downs, may once again stand as a fund for the last battle. I think John-E Franzén knows the outcome very well, but he leaves us in admiration and delusion. Only we can decide how it should go.”
Jan Stene

John E Franzén´s exhibition at Gävle Konstcentrum 2021. The large painting The Last Ride in the foreground. — John E Franzén´s exhibition at Gävle Konstcentrum 2021. The large painting *The Last Ride* in the foreground.

Paintings by John E Franzén: The Visitor number 6, 3, 2, 1, 4 and the painting Gala on the right in the picture. — Paintings by John E Franzén: *The Visitor* # 6, 3, 2, 1, 4 and the painting *Gala* on the right in the picture.

Five paintings by John E Franzén — The paintings *The Visitor # 6, 3, 2, 1* and 4 by John E Franzén.

The painting The Last Ride by John E Franzén. Work in progress.

“When it comes to motorcycles, it has never been the mechanics or driving fast that has fascinated me. I am drawn to the aesthetics and what it radiates. What it is in the appearance that attracts so strongly I still think about.“
John E Franzén

Close-ups of a selection of the artworks above

John E Franzén´s paintings Twilight and The Jesus Painting 2005-2010.
John E Franzén´s painting Twilight 2005-2010, oil on canvas 140×210 cm, private collection.
John E Franzén´s painting The Jesus Painting 2005-2010, oil on canvas 140×210 cm, private collection.
John E Franzén´s painting The Visitor #6, 2004-2012, 49×72 cm, oil on canvas, private collection.
John E Franzén’s painting The Visitor #3, 2004-2012, 49×72 cm, oil on canvas, private collection.
A viewer of the painting The Visitor #2 by John E Franzén.
John E Franzén´s painting The Visitor #2, 2004-2012, 49×72 cm, oil on canvas, private collection.
John E Franzén´s painting The Visitor #1, 2004-2012, 49×72 cm, oil on canvas.
John E Franzén´s painting The Visitor #4, 2004-2012, 49×72 cm, oil on canvas, private collection.
John E Franzén´s painting Gala 1962, 92×72 cm, private collection.
John E Franzén´s Texas Rose 1964, Bikes and people 1967 and Self-portrait 1973-1974.
John E Franzé s Bikes and People 1967, 47×91 cm – gouache, collage, pencil – private collection.
Self-portrait by John E Franzén, 1973-1974, 44×35 cm, watercolour, private collection.
Four works of art by John E Franzén – Ride, Land´s End, Viridian and Hells Angels of California, USA.
John E Franzén´s Lithograph Ride 1982, 49×43 cm, private collection.
John E Franzén´s painting Viridian, 1990, 50×60 cm, collage, gouache, watercolor.
John E Franzén´s lithograph Hells Angels of California, USA, 1990 (1966-1969), 41×52 cm, private collection.
John E Franzén´s artworks East Hollywood, Schoppenhauer, Dead Women in Anaheim and The Royal Family of Sweden.
John E Franzén´s painting Schoppenhauer, (Sketch Passing By Series) 2005-2008, 38×51 cm, oil on canvas.
John E Franzén´s painting Dead Woman in Anaheim, (Sketch Passing By Series), 2005-2008, 40×51 cm, oil on canvas.
The Royal Family of Sweden, 2021 (1984) – Pigment print by John E Franzén 48×38 cm.