About

Shahar Klein – Post Modern Impressionism

In the late 19th Century, painters were trying to do their best to compete with the new medium / enemy – photography. The Impressionists tried to give a softer, more artistic and colorful image rather than the sharp black and white one given by those days' photographers. Shahar Klein, over a century later, is in no war with the camera. He uses it like the Impressionists had been using their eyes.

For nearly three years since he has arrived to the Atlantic side of Costa Rica (El Caribe), Klein has been exploring his new surroundings, his new home – its people and the rural and costal landscapes, trying to characterize and understand the local spirit.

The paintings of Shahar Klein are photo-based but while transferring his images from the pictures to the canvas, he "cleans" the frame, excluds elements which he feels are unnecessary. Thus drawing the viewer's attention to what he wishes to emphasize. Sometimes the artistic manipulation goes as far as re-arranging objects and people within the frame. 

In the series "Los Caribeños" for example, Klein as an observer from afar tries to capture the spirit of the place and the people in general. In most cases the faces are unrecognizable, in the shade or looking the other direction. The viewer is left only to imagine the sounds of the waves or the playing children. Klein directs the viewer to share his own experience, as if being there, inside the scenes with nothing else besides the images he had chosen to leave on the canvas. All concise into the ambiance of tranquility and joy of life. 

The subject of this series brings to mind the works by Adrian Gomez, but his approach and way of depiction is quite different. While Gomez is more Graphic and two-dimensional, Klein and his photographic approach, using perspective and changing depth of field, invites the viewer to almost enter the scenes and imagine being there himself.

In the painting 'Mediodía en Limón' the man is looking straight daydreaming with only one of his eye visible. The background and table are "cleaned" of anything else rather than what Klein had wanted to emphasize: it's hot… no rush… people are native and simple yet modern and updated… - a quiet, clear, non judgmental message.

Klein is also exploring the natural elements he encounters in Costa Rica, some of which like the Etlingera Elatior (the Ginger Flower) or the Zopilotes are new to him. He follows Albert Einstein's advice: “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” The close-ups to the flowers allow experiencing the thrill of almost touching and smelling them. With the birds Klein again uses the minimalistic approach to focus on and study his objects.

In the series "Roofs" Klein admits that first it was the esthetical and abstract formal matrix that had drawn him to the subject - the colors of tin and rust and the unorganized geometrical shapes.  The images again are examined from afar, many times from a bird's eye view. But a closer look at the paintings shows that the artist once again left  to the viewer's sight almost only the barracks and the thick lush vegetation around and amongst them. This helps to better understand how the local tenants are actually part of the local nature. More and more Klein is later drawn closer to the actual architecture of the outskirts.

The roofs' topic appears also in paintings by Rafael Ángel "Felo" García. But while García is isolating the barracks from their original surroundings, and presenting them expressionistically, his strong, somewhat critical opinion is clearly expressed. Klein wishes not to express any strong personal opinion, only his impression of this rural view.

Throughout his work Klein uses diagonal lines crisscrossing his balanced compositions. These diagonals add motion and tension to the calm ambiance of the scenes. Perhaps it is here, that the Israeli nature of Klein is expressed. It seems perhaps that it is this tranquil way of life - which is so different than the temperament of the Middle East – that Klein finds so fascinating.   

Klein is not a tourist but an explorer, curious and anxious to study and know his new environment before he becomes an integral part of it himself. Furthermore, at the same time he wishes to share his impressions through his paintings. He wishes to forward the essence of this area of Costa Rica as captured in his point of view, so to speak. Nevertheless, while he emphasizes his chosen subjects, he tries to keep his objectivity and leaves any interpretation to the viewer.  Shahar Klein's artistic language is clear and simple and thus his works are "friendly" to both local and foreign viewers. 

Adi Gishes (Fine Art Adviser and Appraiser, Curator)

Shahar Klein

Living in Costa Rica in San Jose since August 2010

Pura Vida is the Ticos' (Costa Ricans) greeting, which seemed to me as an appropriate title for this website.

That was the welcome we got when we came here.

Here is an explanation from "Urban Dictionary":

The law of the land in Costa Rica. The expression is used in many forms, from a greeting, to a synonym for "excellent."

 Ticos follow this lifestyle and are some of the most wonderful people on earth.

 A synonym of "hakuna matata." Life is wonderful; enjoy it.

"Pura vida!" (Damn right!) 

"Que Me 'Ice Mae, Pura Vida?" (What's up dude, all good?