Sonnenuntergang
| Edition | Original Art |
|---|---|
| Sujet | Landscape |
| Technique | Painting |
| Height | 60 cm |
| Width | 80 cm |
| Length/Depth | 2 cm |
2024
80x60
Acrylic on canvas
Konstantin Lischkoff-Knecht’s work captivates the viewer with its deep blue, monochrome surface and its striking intensity. In a rectangular, landscape-like format, the painting exudes a quiet yet powerful presence reminiscent of the works of great masters such as Mark Rothko, Ad Reinhardt and Yves Klein. Yet Lischkoff-Knecht’s work goes beyond a mere homage: through his unique pouring technique, he has developed a visual language of his own that sets him apart from these role models both technically and in terms of content.
The complex pouring technique, which Lischkoff-Knecht developed himself, forms the foundation of the painting’s distinctive effect. Not only the paint, but also the primer and undercoat are applied in liquid form, with the artist incorporating gravity as a central element in his creative process. The slow, glaze-like application in many layers creates a profound, almost hypnotic effect that draws the viewer’s eye and immerses them in a world of depth and transparency. The layering lends the painting a vibrant structure that speaks of movement and change, even though the work itself is presented in a static state.
The intense blue colour not only conveys visual depth but also evokes strong emotional and spiritual associations. Yves Klein, who used the colour blue in his work as a symbol of the infinite and the spiritual, finds a subtle continuation here, with Lischkoff-Knecht placing the colour within a context of creation and process. The work explores the temporality of painting – it not only shows a static final result, but is at the same time an echo of a dynamic process in which gravity and time have left their mark.
Through the pouring technique, the ever-present force of gravity takes centre stage in the creative process. The paint flows, sinks, spreads out and is guided by gravity along specific paths. This unstoppable yet unpredictable interplay of control and letting go symbolises the artist’s engagement with concepts such as transience and chance. The viewer does not merely see a picture, but bears witness to a process that is both rationally conceived and emotionally experienced.
The work is a reflection on time and space, on the creative act itself. Here, the artist not only explores conceptual ideas but also reveals an emotional engagement – a reckoning with the fragility and transience of existence, which becomes palpable through the visible layers and traces of the poured material.
Konstantin Lischkoff-Knecht
Mr Knecht studied Fine Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich from 2012 to 2020, under Günther Förg and Jorinde Voigt.
Knecht also took part in Anne Imhof’s project class and engaged in lively exchanges with various lecturers and students at the Academy.
Artist Statement
My artistic journey is deeply rooted in Abstract Expressionism, a style characterised by spontaneous, emotional and unbridled forms of expression. The works of pioneers such as Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning, as well as artists like Cy Twombly and Georg Baselitz, have significantly shaped my understanding and appreciation of the raw, immediate power of colour and form.
In my paintings, I strive to explore the boundaries of visual language and to convey the emotions and thoughts that move me onto the canvas. Abstract Expressionism offers me the freedom to express myself beyond traditional forms and conventions. This style allows me to experiment with colours, textures and compositions to create a deep and often intuitive resonance.
For me, every canvas is a slaughtering block upon which I come to terms with inner conflicts, feelings and thoughts. The movement of the brush, the flow of paint and the bold gestures reflect the intensity and spontaneity that lie at the heart of my work. The factor of time plays a very intimate role in the creative process: For me, the flow of paint and the resulting emergence of the image represent the passing of the states of my inner life as they are immediately experienced. This process is ultimately concealed from the viewer – the viewer is presented only with the outcome of my process. Through this unfiltered form of artistic expression, I strive to draw viewers into a world of emotion that is as subjective and multi-layered as human experience itself.
Abstract Expressionism has provided me not only with a stylistic framework, but also with a philosophical foundation. It reminds me that art should not merely be viewed, but experienced – it should create a direct and often personal connection between the work and the viewer.
Exhibitions (selection):
2015 Polish Institute Platan / Latarka Gallery (Budapest)
2015 Salon Kennedy (Frankfurt)
2015 Kunstverein Wiesbaden (Wiesbaden)
2016 Catholic Academy Munich (Munich)
2017 Lothringer 13 (Munich)
2017 Art Homes (Munich)
2018 Kunstarkaden (Munich)
2018 Haus 10 (Fürstenfeldbruck)
2023 Kunstarkaden (Munich)
2024 Kunstpavillon (Munich)
