Introduction
By Albrecht von Stetten
From birth, we are wired to observe micro-expressions in other people’s faces. Besides self-awareness, this deep understanding of others is key to human-to-human connections.
My thesis is that only artists with razor-sharp observation skills, a deep understanding of human nature, and the ability to translate this into a work of art – only that small group of dedicated artists are able to notice, process, and express these subtle nuances.
Philipp is such a white raven. After reviewing thousands of artists and meeting more than 400 of them during my travels, I found Philipp’s ability to deconstruct and recreate his own reality based on his personal visions and beliefs second to none.
But don’t get distracted by his technical virtuosity. The crystal clear reality that springs from his brushes reveal a clear view, deep beneath the surface, under which the full range of human emotions and inner truths emerge.
Therefore, with great pleasure, I invite you to be part of Philipp’s ‘Mercy’ series and witness the early stages of what will become the most influential series of hyperrealistic paintings of their time.
IBEX Masters actively supports top artists all over the world, providing them with the financial means, time, and mental space to create deeply meaningful works that capture everything it means to be human.
NOBLESSE OBLIGE
A new Renaissance
Born into a Southern-German aristocratic family, Albrecht von Stetten grew up in a converted monastery surrounded by Medieval and Renaissance art. One night in Spain, a sobering conversation with an artist opened his eyes to the grim reality of the art world. In a society where patience and time are increasingly scarce and where mediocrity rules, there is no place for any artist to reach their full potential.
As a patron of the arts and following his family tradition that goes back centuries, it is Albrecht von Stetten’s firm belief that effective altruism is essentially the idea that no matter who you are, there is only a finite amount of money that you can direct to philanthropic endeavors.
Therefore, it is better to use it to maximize the social benefit of that money based on evidence and reason rather than just directing it to ‘feel good’ projects.
This realization eventually led to the current IBEX Masters model that liberates and promotes the most amazing super-realistic artists alive today. IBEX Masterpieces are one of a kind and, therefore, extremely exclusive with limited availability.
GET TO KNOW PHILIPP WEBER
The man behind the art
Absorbed with his drive for perfection, Philipp practices the patience and focus of a Shaolin monk, diligently creating his large-format portraits, which are absolutely faithful to real life.
His artistic aptitude was recognized early on, and his teachers urged him to follow his passion – doing so, he pursued a fine art degree in Kassel, Germany, and already held his first solo show before graduating.
“The level of detail of the old masters has always fascinated me, as well as the first generation of photorealists like Chuck Close,” says Philipp. “They are my role models and inspiration.”
The physical expressiveness of his models are strengthened by patterns from history and pop culture, religious symbolism, and elementary carriers of meaning. Especially water plays a central role in Philipp’s work as he considers it to be the universal source of life.
Philipp’s artwork thus provides room for existential reflection and insight. “My works are about the second level, about what lies behind the seemingly smooth surface. Hyperrealism for me is not just maximizing details but much more about maximizing feeling.”
THE MERCY SERIES
ETERNAL BREATH
Oil on canvas, 140 x 180 cm
The ancient Chinese philosophy of Daoism states that existence is determined by opposite and conflicting powers: good and evil, life and death – Yin and Yang.
Only in this mutual relationship does a universal whole emerge, an eternal cycle. Yin and yang thus characterize ongoing processes of change and eternal return.
Philipp translates this ancient philosophy and places it into his own contemporary universe: dressed in black and white with their mouths slightly open, the young women focus on their breathing.
This perpetual cycle connects them with the universe surrounding them, symbolized through falling water drops – water being the source of all life, mimicking a starry sky with brilliant sparkles of light in front of a seemingly infinite background.
‘Eternal Breath’ is the first chapter of an ongoing series that combines a multitude of philosophical and spiritual concepts and forms an imaginative space within Philipp Weber’s world in which the viewer is deeply involved.
Grace
Oil on canvas, 220 x 270 cm
Philipp Weber’s artwork requires us to look beyond the facade, as his real strength lies in the fact that he has the ability to dig deep into his subconscious and present us with his own reality, often a contemporary translation of human emotions and inner truths, mixed with religion and ancient rites that stem from his Nordic DNA.
If we look closer, we notice a cutting tattoo emblazoned on the central figure’s chest. The fine lines of the scars form a star, which is a symbol of protection and orientation in the darkness of the night. A cross grows out of it – in Christianity, this symbolizes the relationship between God and humanity.
‘Grace’ conveys an intensely positive mood to the viewer because, just like the two front figures, which are blurred and out of focus, they too can hope for mercy for moments full of joy and fulfillment. Impressive by the size and execution alone, this Masterpiece will also be Philipp’s central work for the ‘Mercy’ series.
Rituals of Life
Oil on canvas, 60 x 80 cm
Philipp Weber’s artwork requires us to look beyond the facade, as his real strength lies in the fact that he has the ability to dig deep into his subconscious and present us with his own reality, often a contemporary translation of human emotions and inner truths, mixed with religion and ancient rites that stem from his Nordic DNA.
If we look closer, we notice a cutting tattoo emblazoned on the central figure’s chest. The fine lines of the scars form a star, which is a symbol of protection and orientation in the darkness of the night. A cross grows out of it – in Christianity, this symbolizes the relationship between God and humanity.
Tracing its use back to the Stone Age, this also represents a religious world formula. At the same time, the Christian cross points to a burden – the cutting tattoo stands for injuries but also for devotion.
And so it is the central female figure that meets the water flowing from above, symbolizing life, purification, and renewal, again playing on the theme that water is the source of all life.
Signs of Infinity
Oil on canvas, 140 x 180 cm
As human beings, we are often confronted with our own vulnerabilities – life events tend to leave traces in the soul’s psyche. With Signs of Infinity, Philipp Weber addresses this, but since everything in the universe requires balance, he also points to the positive aspects of trust in a higher power.
Embedded in an ornament reminiscent of flames, the rune creates an allusion to the mythical creature phoenix and its constant rebirth from fire. There is also an ambivalence between the injury suffered and the positive symbolism created by the scar pattern. Again this ambivalence symbolizes the human ability to suffer, and, at the same time, it refers to the strength that can arise from suffering.
The falling water supports this positive interpretation and is used as a reoccurring theme throughout the Mercy series. On the dark blue background, luminous drops of water form a starry sky: the women are surrounded by a universe that blesses them in all its infinity.
Spreading Wings
Oil on canvas, 140 x 180 cm
What is the essence of our humanity? Are we figures of light or darkness? Angelic or devilish? With ‘Spreading Wings,’ Philipp Weber once more shows us the continuous attempts of the universe to balance itself out, as both are always present simultaneously: The battle of good against evil.
Humankind is free to act according to their moral principles in a primarily secularized world. We strive for freedom, for a life of autonomy and self-determination.
But freedom also means accepting responsibility for the consequences of your actions, harboring the possibility of success and the risk of failure. The autonomous individual is allowed happiness and must now answer for suffering himself. Philipp adds that people seek relief from the burden of doubt and healing from mental injuries in religion and spirituality.
We witness spiritual purification, giving the individual new strength without an attempt to hide the moral ambivalence inherent in human beings. Spreading Wings is a plea for the autonomous individual who, at the same time, stands by his spiritual consciousness.
21-04-2023 Art Church Rochus
Exclusive reveal for Signs of Infinity
