"o.T.", 2023
| Edition | Original Art |
|---|---|
| Sujet | Abstract |
| Technique | Painting |
| Height | 145 cm |
| Width | 105.8 cm |
| Length/Depth | 3.5 cm |
Material:
Oil on canvas / on plywood panel
Technique:
Painting with a brush and oil paint
Shipping:
The work is shipped stretched onto a wooden frame with a plywood panel attached – including a certificate of authenticity and the artist’s signature on the reverse.
In the work shown, roughly textured areas of colour in the upper and lower parts of the picture contrast with finely painted colour gradients in overlapping segments.
The colour gradients intensify through their partly opposing contrasts, enhancing the luminous effect to the point where it appears at times ‘glowing’ and at times ‘shimmering’.
This is pure, non-representational, abstract painting, intended to contain no references whatsoever other than to the painting itself, even though associations with metallic surfaces are possible.
Viewed from a distance, the colour gradients appear as if digitally superimposed, whilst on closer inspection, fine brushstrokes may hint at the craftsmanship involved.
Contrary to the traditional stretcher frame, the painting support consists of wooden slats with a plywood panel attached to them. The canvas is stretched onto this support in the traditional manner. This allows for greater precision in edge definition and finer colour gradients within the painted colour segments during the painting process. Furthermore, the side edges of the painting are less heavily rounded than is the case with traditional stretcher frames, which further contributes to its distinct, high-quality, three-dimensional quality. Consequently, the painting is slightly heavier than a traditional stretcher frame, but can still be hung using standard mounting methods.
Daniel Wöllenstein
Lives and works in Cologne.
Artistic career
Education
2002–2009 Studied art at the University of Cologne under Rainer Barzen and Silke Leverkühne
Since 2007: Studio at KunstWerk Cologne
Exhibitions (selection)
2007 Blaumachen, KunstWerk Cologne
2008 ‘Bogen 2: Straight from the HART’ –
2008 Long Night of the Museums – ‘Festive Processions and Diodramas’
2008–2009 ‘Darwin – Design and Creation of a KVB Tram’ to mark Darwin Year 2009, in collaboration with students from the University of Cologne
2011 “Fette Nager – Bello and I” – Museum Night – KunstWerk Cologne
2016 nxnw Festival collaboration with Slobodan Kajkut “20 Interventions”
2016 “Raum 500” – exhibition with Olga Jakob and Heike Simmer – nxnw Festival
2017 “HORST” – KunstWerk Köln
2014–2017 Board member at KunstWerk Köln e.V.
2017 Chairperson of KunstWerk Köln e.V.
2019 Long Night of Museums “Wedding” – installation and collaboration with Heike Simmer
2021 TUNING – KunstWerk
2025 afternoonprojekts with Tom Gully, Oskar Lovis and Gilbert Flöck – KunstWerk Cologne
2026 Fragmented Realities – vonfraunberg Art Gallery, Düsseldorf
2026 Artist of the Month at SKM
Upcoming
June SKM Pop-up Exhibition, Munich
August: SKM Community Exhibition, Leipzig
Artist Statement
What’s it about? The works are taken from the ‘TUNING’ series – spanning the period from 2018 to the present day, although the pure colour segments have only come to dominate the ‘TUNING’ series since 2021. The focus is on a gradual abstraction and reduction of the pictorial content, whilst references to natural and man-made phenomena can be found in the colour and form compositions.
Within the seemingly equal segments, compositions of colour and form can create foregrounds and backgrounds that shift fluidly depending on the viewer’s focus. The play of light, which can be intensified by contrasting colour gradients to the point of ‘glow’, contributes to the sometimes sculptural impact of the works.
Digital colour selection scales, flip-flop paint finishes from tuned sports cars, sunsets, heavy industry, space and reflections in coffee can all find their way into the colour compositions.
