Ein Sturm zieht auf (1)

(2021)

Spray pigment on canvas

Two different pieces of canvas have been machine-sewn together to form the painting surface: an awning fabric, of the sort commonly found in middle-class suburbs, and a nettle fabric dyed using a bleach-based batik technique. The work depicts a composition of dots (so-called ‘minimal reflection units’) and a large flash of light piercing through the composition.

This artwork combines contrasting materials and techniques to create a visually captivating and conceptually profound composition. The awning fabric, which exudes a certain sense of everyday practicality, is complemented by the bleached burlap, whose irregular, cloud-like patterns possess an organic and almost ethereal quality. The machine stitching that joins these two distinct pieces of canvas forms a visible and symbolic boundary between the worlds of tradition and modernity, functionality and art.

In this tension-filled composition, a large bolt of lightning cuts across the canvas, dramatically piercing the minimal reflective units. These dots, precisely and thoughtfully placed, do not lose their significance in the presence of the lightning, but rather take on a new dimension. The lightning bolt, as a symbol of sudden enlightenment or destructive force, interacts with the reflective dots, which represent tranquillity and contemplation, thereby creating a dynamic field of tension.

By combining these two very different materials and introducing the flash of lightning, the artist succeeds in staging a multi-layered narrative. The awning fabric, often associated with a sense of security and protection in middle-class suburbs, is placed in a new context by the bleached, mystical quality of the nettle fabric and the piercing flash of lightning. This group of works forms part of the tradition of analytical painting, which captivates through its intensive engagement with the fundamental elements of painting and the creation of a profound, conceptual level.

The machine-sewn canvas symbolises the union of opposites and the creation of new meanings through their interaction. The flash acts as a catalysing element, breaking through the quiet harmony of the dots and directing the viewer’s attention to the intersections of tranquillity and chaos, tradition and modernity, function and aesthetics.

This work challenges the viewer to engage with the tensions and harmonies within the composition. It invites us to question the significance of the materials used and to explore the conceptual depth behind the artistic representation. The artist once again demonstrates his engagement with analytical painting by utilising visual and material contrasts to create art that is both powerful and thought-provoking.