KUBARK

The work “KUBARK” was created during an intensive exploration of the subject of “white torture” or psychological torture. It was not created out of inspiration, but rather developed under the influence of this distressing subject matter. The title ‘KUBARK’ refers to a CIA manual designed as a guide for interrogators, containing detailed instructions on the use of psychological torture methods – a direct indication of the depth and gravity of the subject.

The painting was created in my flat, where, on an easel, it almost reached the ceiling. Originally, the canvas featured less impasto-laden, figurative compositions, which were gradually supplanted by an increasingly expressive and gestural style of painting as the process unfolded. This development reflected the emotional intensity and dynamism that characterise the work.

A decisive moment was the unexpected ‘intervention’ of a fly. It buzzed around the room and frequently came dangerously close to the painting whilst I patiently devoted myself to modelling the figure’s face. Just as the face – and thus the painting – was finished, the fly flew straight into the painted figure’s eye, leaving a disfiguring mark. To my regret, the fly could not be saved. Its demise and the marred eye led to frustration and a fit of rage, which resulted in a radical reworking of the face into its current form.

This event, as fortuitous as it is significant, adds another layer to the work. It underlines the unpredictability and the raw, emotional commitment that went into the creation of the painting. The texture of the painting and the expressive brushstrokes reflect not only the inner conflict, but also the destructive power of psychological influences, which form the central theme of the work.

The result is a work which, through both its genesis and its visual presence, represents an authentic expression of emotional and conceptual struggle.

KUBARK, 2020, 200 x 130 x 6 cm, oil on canvas

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The work “KUBARK” was created during an intense engagement with the topic of “white torture” or psychological torture. It was not born out of inspiration but rather developed under the impact of this distressing subject. The title “KUBARK” refers to a CIA manual designed as a guide for interrogators, providing detailed instructions on the application of psychological torture methods—a direct reference to the depth and gravity of the theme.

The painting was created in my flat, where it stood on an easel that nearly reached the ceiling. Initially, the canvas featured less impasto and more figurative compositions, which were gradually replaced during the painting process by an increasingly expressive and gestural style. This evolution reflects the emotional intensity and dynamism that define the work.

A decisive moment was the unexpected ‘intervention’ of a fly. It buzzed around the room and frequently came dangerously close to the painting as I patiently worked on modelling the figure’s face. Just as the face—and therefore the painting—was completed, the fly landed directly in the painted figure’s eye, leaving a disfiguring mark. To my regret, the fly could not be saved. Its demise and the disfigured eye led to frustration and an outburst of anger, resulting in a radical reworking of the face into its current form.

This incident, as accidental as it was significant, adds another layer to the work. It underscores the unpredictability and raw emotional engagement that went into its creation. The texture of the painting and its expressive brushstrokes reflect not only the artist’s inner conflict but also the destructive power of psychological influences, which is the central theme of the piece.

The result is a work which, through both its genesis and visual presence, represents an authentic expression of emotional and conceptual confrontation.

KUBARK, 2020, 200 x 130 x 6 cm, oil on canvas