The 28-year-old makes his debut at Zurich's Galerie Alex Schlesinger with «Colorful Inspiration».
Olivier Bollag, who comes from a family that can trace its lineage back a good 400 years, discovered his passion for colors and forms early. But he also has always had a close connection to the world of finance due to both his heritage and career path.
«I am particularly appreciative of the inspiring exhibitions by Olivier Bollag as an investment manager and art enthusiast. His vivid, colorful art inspires creativity and leaves a lasting impression. It is critical for me to able to have a direct exchange with the artist as it allows me to understand and see the inspiration and the passion first hand», indicates Pascal Erni, a relationship manager at Zurich-based investment house Vontobel.
Watchmaker to Artist
Bollags artistic path has been somewhat unconventional. He began by sketching the faces of train passengers when starting his apprenticeship as a watchmaker at Omega in Biel, always drawing them with smiles on their faces. After that, he transformed their images into colorful digital portraits, something that ended up becoming his «Colorful Faces» series, which set the stage for his subsequent «Colourful Motivation» collection.
A glance at Olivier Bollag's «Colorful Inspiration» exhibition, Galerie Alex Schlesinger (Image: Olivier Bollag)
His geometric works are made in a wide variety of mediums, everything from print to acrylic. They even include painted dominos, which form part of his «Colorful Dominos» work that makes use of all of the 12 major colors, and which can be found in among the new works at the gallery exhibition.
Refined Colors and Forms
Art gallery owner Alex Schlesinger, who mostly devotes himself to contemporary art, is again putting undiluted abstraction on display, something that is a reminder of his start about 20 years back. «The refined color and form compositions of Bollag's work are what fascinate me, as it allows observers to interpret and react to it in a variety of ways», Schlesinger says in an interview with finews.art.
Another view of Olivier Bollag's «Colorful Inspiration» exhibition, Galerie Alex Schlesinger (Image: Olivier Bollag)
Works in Israel
Bollag, who studied in Israel and has degrees in marketing, communication, entrepreneurship as well as organizational psychology and development, integrates his wide field of knowledge into his art. His works cost between 4,000 and 12,000 francs and have been placed in private collections as well as at financial institutions and universities.
Four of his works are on permanent exhibition at the Reichman University in Herzliya, Israel, as a way of motivating students.
The artist shows one of the works from the «Colorful Dominos» series. (Image: Olivier Bollag)
Searching for Acknowledgement
Bollag, who believes art is critical to achieving emotional balance in life, wants long-term acknowledgment for work that is authentic while exuding joy. «A smile doesn't cost anything but the pleasure that an artwork can give is priceless», says Bollag, who emphasizes what he does is not about financial success but passion for art.
- Olivier Bollag's «Colorful Inspiration» exhibition can be seen at Galerie Alex Schlesinger on Saturday, March 20 (12.00 - 16.00) and on April 6 (by appointment). More information is available at the following link.
