Martin Solymar is based in Gothenburg and attended Valand’s Art Academy 2007 – 2012.
In his art, his interest in Nordic mythology meets the experiences of Caribbean imaginary worlds, music culture and religious practices. His numerous journeys to Latin America and the strong impressions of the local music styles are embodied in a narrative painting in which eternal human questions are reflected in the specific conditions of the different places, in the landscapes and nature.
Solymar’s visual language can thus be described as a confluence of influences drawn from music, travel, mythology, and history. These elements are woven into a syncretic method of image-making, where the pictorial narrative remains deliberately ambiguous. Solymar embraces this ambiguity, rooted in his belief that as a narrative emerges, the unique, albeit cryptic, qualities of the work become evident.
His approach to painting is one of continuous process, where the image develops in tandem with the crystallization of its meaning. He perceives this process as a multi-layered ”memory wheel,” wherein everything is subject to change—time and memories move in circular, overlapping flows.
Throughout this process of exploration, an intuitive dialogue unfolds between him and the image. Each work represents a link in an ever-evolving chain of reaction.