All the World is a Stage
by Leon Steinmetz
June 18th – July 31st, 2016
Leon Steinmetz’s exhibition entitled ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE...Commedia dell’Arte & Other Theater is an exhibit of his new works. In this exhibition Leon Steinmetz brings to life his interpretations of theater as it presents and reveals humanity. His characters, mostly from Commedia dell’Arte theatrical movement of the 16th – 18th centuries, exaggerate human emotions.
Commedia dell”Arte performances were staged outdoors in and around the Venneto region of Italy. Typified by the use of masks to heighten the dramatic effect, performances were improvised by highly trained professional actors that perfected specific characters - surreptitious servants, devious and foolish old men, the braggadocio politicians and the military, as well as others that came under theater’s sharp scrutiny.
The performances were based upon the universal themes of love, jealousy, sex and old age. As one views Steinmetz’ work, these themes become readily apparent by character interactions, and artwork titles, presented as whimsical dialogues. There is a spirited liveliness in Steinmetz’ compositions. His cast of players is eccentric and it exhibits Steinmetz’ trademark – intertwining comic and tragic essences of the human condition.
