Tür und Einsamkeit
| Edition | Original Art |
|---|---|
| Sujet | Other |
| Technique | Painting |
| Height | 60 cm |
| Width | 50 cm |
| Length/Depth | 5 cm |
One-off piece, exclusive original.
Material: acrylic, wool, nails on canvas
Description:
This work creates the illusion of a door, which takes on a three-dimensional presence through stretched thread and nails. The shadows cast change depending on the light source, lending the artwork a dynamic effect. The bright yellow outside the door symbolises the world beyond – full of possibilities, hope and light. Yet inside, a palpable emptiness remains, embodying loneliness and hesitation: should one take the plunge or linger in the familiar silence?
The yellow glass in the doorframe, applied with rough brushstrokes, stands in stark contrast to the blue of the background. This blue conveys a cool, almost infinite expanse – a colour of solitude, but also of reflection. The deliberately uneven brushwork used to depict the glass reinforces this effect: the light does not appear clear, but refracted, flickering, almost fleeting – as if blurred by the passage of time. It symbolises memories that fade but never disappear entirely.
The door stands still, a silent witness to the past, waiting – for a return, a movement, or perhaps simply for another light.
Concept & Distinctive Feature:
✔ A blend of painting and sculpture – the combination of acrylic, thread and nails creates a sense of spatial depth.
✔ Play of light and shadow – the appearance of the work changes depending on the time of day and the angle of the light.
✔ High-contrast texture – the rough brushwork on the yellow glass has been deliberately chosen to emphasise the contrast with the background.
✔ Minimalist yet profound – the work explores the boundaries between inside and outside, freedom and restraint.
Guoqiang Wu
Education:,
2016–2017 Academy of Arts (ASK) Berlin, Course: Fine Art – Painting,
2017–2021 Essen University of Fine Arts under Prof. Nicola Stäglich, Course:
Painting
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Printmaking Artist’s Statement :
My art springs from my innermost consciousness. Through my works, I wish to express my most primal thoughts and thereby make visible my existence as a thinking being in this world.
Over time, experiences, encounters and emotions accumulate, causing my works to reflect various moods. Yet despite all these changes, my fundamental way of thinking remains unchanged. During my early years at university, my works were often chaotic – to some, this may have appeared to be an unstructured or immature technique. Yet for me, it was a natural process of growth, an honest portrayal of life. Over time, my works became more minimalist, clearer and more three-dimensional. I did not consciously steer this development – it simply manifested itself in my art. This style continues to characterise my work to this day: clear geometry, strong colour contrasts and deliberate reduction. Large monochrome areas combined with fine lines or multiple blocks of colour create a sharp, almost cutting effect. This clarity and directness reflect my mindset at the time – no compromises, no detours.
Today, I yearn for purity, clarity and directness.
A defining theme in my art is my childhood. I grew up in a Chinese village whilst my parents worked in the city to make ends meet. My grandparents brought me up. The longing for my parents made me emotionally sensitive – I dreamt of seeing them again. This profound emotional experience has found its way into my works, for it is part of my most personal perception of reality.
Later, I worked in a warehouse in Germany for seven years – a long time during which I did not pick up a paintbrush. This phase was formative and difficult for me, yet it is part of my life. In early 2025, I consciously brought this chapter of my life to a close by handing in my notice. Perhaps this experience, too, will one day become a new artistic theme.
Whatever the theme, technique or material – I remain true to my original ideas. My art is not staged, but an honest reflection of the world from the perspective of an ordinary person.
Exhibitions:,
2019.
“Vor Ort” – Students and lecturers from the HBK Essen, Maschinenhalle in Dorsten,
2020.
9. Revierkunst, Zeche Ewald Herten.
HBK Essen 2020 School Scholarship Nomination
Other artworks by the artist
