In the exhibition Unfamiliar Passions we present work by Leo Maher (UK, 1998) and Mai van Oers (NL, 1953). The artists, very different in background and age find a common interest in legends, folk tales and (art)history. Both artists create multilayered narratives based on their own lifes and experiences, such as gay culture and an upbringing among the nuns. The works on show invite you to dive into these stories and discover their endless references.

Technique
Their artworks are made with great attention to and love for technique. In Leo’s case a variety that spans from woodcarving to bronze casting and 3d printing. Mai van Oers has perfected two different techniques: very detailled drawings and almost abstract paintings.

The History of Homosexuality
Leo Maher will exhibit the series Unfamiliar Passions, in which he investigates the history of homosexuality and its dance through time and western civilisation. Each piece of the series explores the heritage of identifiers, legends, euphemisms, deviant behaviours and signalling mechanisms, noting how they transcend cultures and societies before ending up woven into the cloth of modern gay life.

Recognizable and Alienating
Mai van Oers exhibits paintings and drawings that are worlds of their own, simultaneously recognizable and alienating. Her paintings are landscapes that balance on a thin line between figuration and abstraction. Her drawings are worlds in which familiar elements combined form an alienating image. Cathedrals, tombs, fairytale figures and animals live in environments full of structures, which sometimes can be traced back to reality and sometimes follow their own logic.