"As a young artist in the 1970s, my favorite painters were from the Renaissance and Baroque era. In the 1980s I was inspired by surrealism. Today, I have no particular favorite since my paintings are a result of my multidisciplinary background from architecture, philosophy and research."
Of Swiss and Swedish nationality, Paul Dettwiler has a 40-year experience of painting predominantly motifs of urban environments as well as in a surrealistic style. Dettwiler holds a Doctorate in Philosophy and has worked as a researched, architect, restorer and fine art painter.
His education and work have mainly taken place in Switzerland and Sweden; including Chalmers University of Technology, various studios of painters and restorers like Hans Nordenström, Graham Stacy, Acke Jansson and Bror Stawe. Dettwiler has exhibited work in Sweden (Karlskrona and Karlshamn) in 1980, 1981, 1982 and in Switzerland 1985 at Galerie d’Arfi, Spring exposition as well as the Galerie Collis in Lausanne, 1992.
Paul Dettwiler has lead scientific research and also produced multiple artworks on the theme of ancient windows as a cultural part of our civilization.
"In recent years my public presence consists of web exhibitions and publications in art magazines and scientific journals. As a trained researcher, architect and painter I am not only interested in ancient city cores but also various human events, activities and movements in spaces between buildings. My paintings have themes of historic cityscapes in Central and Northern Europe as well as themes within mythology, psychology and surrealism. In recent years I have also produced paintings and illustrations on the theme of the Tarot deck.
In principle my paintings are produced with the same technique as was commonly used in Europe during Renaissance and Baroque era; namely the “glazing technique” i.e. multiple transparent layers that consist of various oils, oil colour, Venetian turpentine and egg tempera."
