Koppenberg twins’ ‘Birth and Degeneration’ art show opens

PALMER - Like gold, great art is where you find it. This month it will be at Madd Matters Gallery in Palmer where, for the first time, the works of Arthur and Oliver Koppenberg will be shown.

Arthur and Oliver Koppenberg were born in Palmer. The twins lived here until they were 4, when they moved to Kerrville, deep in the hill country of Texas. They returned to Palmer a year ago and brought their art with them.

In Kerrville, they grew up formed by an external life of pressurized normalcy, especially in church, "absorbing the culture like black holes." Yet internally, they were inspired by the codependent destructive relationship between them, says Arthur. They are geniuses. They are studied savants. Like many young people today, they are also students of trans-humanism.

They perform poetry.

Their work is individual. That is, they each have defining characteristics. But in general, it appears all experience is shared and this combined brain shows itself in their works. Paintings are deeply introspective and remarkably mature while still having the freshness of teenage angst and an uncertain future. Some of the work also has elements of and pays homage to Chagall and Picasso and Dadaist Joan Miro. Gottfried Helnwein seems to play a part in their constructions and symbolism.

Though they demonstrate a very thorough knowledge of classic artistic technique they also have a very primitive group of works that seem to lack a finish. These works will not appeal to most folks, but should be viewed by artists and art lovers for their intrinsic meanings and poetry. There is a lot of dreaming and dream state revelations in these pieces. Perhaps a stream of unconsciousness is the best descriptor.

This show is not for everyone. It is modern art, it is psychological and perhaps, at points, even psychotic. Almost all the pieces have strong psycho-sexual imagery though there isn't anything I would call sexual in a classic understanding. Little could be construed as pretty.

I believe this quote describing Helnwien's work is fitting here for the Koppenbergs: "The child is the symbol of innocence, but also of innocence betrayed. In today's world, the malevolent forces of war, poverty and sexual exploitation, and the numbing, predatory influence of modern media assault the virtue of children ..."

This show is for the serious artist, the serious collector and lovers of poetry. It is real art like you might see in New York or San Francisco right here in Palmer.

"Birth and Degeneration" works of Arthur and Oliver Koppenberg opens Jan. 14 at Madd Matters Gallery, 1088 S. Colony Way, Palmer. An artists' reception is from 6 to 8 p.m.

Greg Gusse is an artist who owns and operates Madd Matters Gallery in Palmer.