Illusionist 3D street art by US artist Kurt Wenner draws you in. The vivid "anamorphic" scenes depict "Fishing in Old Shanghai" and "Interrupted Tea Party" in chalk that rains will wash away, says Xu Wei.

This is marvelous illusionist 3D "street art" that seems to belong in a museum, instead of in Xintiandi where summer rains will wash the brilliant chalk away. The captivating creations that draw us in, "Fishing in Old Shanghai" and "Interrupted Tea Party," will remain on film and in our memories.

US artist and architect Kurt Wenner is known for his majestic "anamorphic" art that often reminds viewers of classical art. He also paints illusionist pop art. Figures and shapes seem to escape from their frames, in the manner of Michaelangelo and other European fresco painters.

Wenner has his own geometry. They are usually "anamorphic" at first sight but they seem to rise from and fall into the ground when viewed from one point in space.

Inspiration for the two works, "Fishing" and "Tea Party," comes from the artist's first impression of the city and its culture, a combination of Oriental spirit and Western fashion.

"My experience in Shanghai is special to me," Wenner says. "In some way Shanghai reminds me of different cities I visited 25 years ago. The city still has a lot of flavor and character that doesn't appear today in the Western world."

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Wenner attended the Rhode Island School of Design and Art Center College of Design before working for NASA as an advanced scientific space illustrator.

In 1982, he moved to Italy to pursue his love of classical art. His knowledge and passion for Renaissance classicism provided a foundation for his own art. In 1984, he invented an art form all his own - anamorphic or illusionistic street painting, all very large.

The form of perspective known as anamorphism was used by the great European masters to give the illusion of soaring architecture and floating figures in ceiling frescoes. Wenner adjusted this geometry to his own works, where painted forms appear three-dimensional.

"Artistic geometry was actually one of the most fascinating subjects in the classical tradition," Wenner says. "My paintings invite rediscovery of many artistic traditions, as I borrow from mythology, allegory, literature, and theater."

He especially enjoys working on large pieces that "encompass" the viewer.

"I enjoy teasing my audience with a wealth of allusions - historical, stylistic, and perceptual," he adds. "Even if viewers cannot reference the story it tells, they sense that one exists, thus stimulating their curiosity. While some recognize and appreciate the content, others may admire the richly embellished surfaces or technical virtuosity."

He believes that some suppositions in the book "The Da Vinci Code" are not imaginary. "Many secrets of geometry and symbolism actually exist in Da Vinci's artworks," he says.

Almost all of Wenner's paintings are done on commission and the majority of them are on a large scale. They can be found in corporate high-rises, government buildings, hotel lobbies, as well as churches and museums worldwide.

His favorite work is "Dies Irae," which is based on the Last Judgment. This huge creation was praised by Pope John Paul II in Mantua, Italy. The Pope signed the mural, officially recognizing (some) street painting as an official form of sacred art.

Wenner has also inspired many communities to create their own street painting festivals.

Today there are dozens of street painting festivals in the United States and worldwide that attract thousands of professional and amateur artists, as well as children.

"Though rain will soon come down and wash away almost all the outdoor paintings done in chalk, the fun is mostly about the process itself," he says.

For decades artists have exhibited finished works in art galleries. But through street painting, artists are able to set aside their fears and self-doubt and share the process of creating a work with the public.

Wenner says that although the art form is still new to Chinese people, it can flourish and fill a great need for the artists and the public.

Wenner has been living with his family in Bettona, an ancient Italian town, for more than 20 years. His years in Italy gave him a special understanding of and appreciation for architecture, as well as the important heritage of architectural ornamentation.

He has spent the last several years designing large residences.

However, in the future, Wenner says he will paint stronger and more compelling pieces and take photographs of the street artwork on tour.

"From the beginning of my career, my main artistic motivation was to rediscover, transform and share neglected ideas from the past," he says.

"I have been fortunate to be able to share my work with millions of people. I hope that my work will eventually inspire other artists to learn more about the vast and rich patrimony of European art, so that others can enjoy the wealth of ideas that is often hidden with the passage of time."

(Shanghai Daily June 12, 2007)
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